On January 16, Senators urged the development of a national framework to regulate the use of social media by children under 18, calling for coordinated action by multiple ministries and state institutions. The call followed a joint notice submitted by lawmakers who highlighted the risks posed by unmonitored access to online platforms.
Presiding over the sitting, Senator Sherry Rehman said safeguards were needed to address the issue and proposed the formation of a special committee. She suggested that the body include representatives from the ministries of information technology, interior, education and law, as well as all parliamentary parties and provincial governments. The final decision on the committee’s formation would rest with Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani.
Senator Falak Naz, one of the movers of the notice, said that most social media platforms were designed for adults and that underage users were exposed to inappropriate content, online harassment and harmful trends. She cited the killing of 17-year-old TikToker Sana Yousaf as an example of the dangers linked to unsupervised use. She called for a comprehensive legal framework, mandatory age verification, parental supervision and restrictions on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and VPNs for children under 18. She also sought a briefing from the Ministry of Information Technology on existing laws and future plans.
Senator Fawzia Arshad said the issue had become a significant concern for parents and emphasised the need for counselling within educational institutions. She said the 16–18 age group needed specific guidance and noted gaps in the curriculum regarding civics and moral development.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry described the matter as a national issue that extended beyond the mandate of a single ministry. He said the ministries of interior and education, as well as the FIA Cyber Wing and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, should contribute to developing a unified response. He added that many countries were facing similar challenges and that current age-verification measures on social media platforms required stronger enforcement. He expressed the government’s support for the creation of a special committee should the Senate choose to constitute one.
Senator Rehman noted that Australia had introduced legislation relating to social media use by children under 16. She said that while she did not support blanket bans, the Senate should consider all relevant aspects and proceed with care. She also directed that the proposed committee examine Senator Afnan Ullah Khan’s data protection bill, which sets age requirements for opening social media accounts.
Separately, responding to a question from Senator Jan Muhammad Buledi, Dr Chaudhry informed the House that no operation had been conducted inside Quaid-e-Azam University. He said a recent operation was carried out in the Muslim Colony area near the Diplomatic Enclave to address encroachments on Capital Development Authority land by non-local residents.
