ISLAMABAD – A legal debate over restricting and regulating social media use by children under the age of 16 has begun in Pakistan, with a petition filed before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking legislation to protect minors from online risks.
The petition asks the court to direct the authorities to introduce a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework governing social media access for children below 16 years of age.
It also seeks the establishment of an age-verification mechanism to ensure that platforms can effectively determine the age of their users.
According to the petitioner’s lawyer, the petition highlights growing concerns over children’s exposure to cyberbullying, online harassment and harmful or inappropriate digital content.
It argues that the state should establish an effective system to protect minors while safeguarding their digital rights.
The petition also calls for policies covering children’s digital rights, privacy and mental and physical well-being. It seeks greater responsibilities for social media platforms to ensure a safer online environment for young users.
The petition was filed by citizen Waqas Nasir through his lawyers, Jalal Haider, Yahya Fareed Khawaja and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali.
The legal move comes amid growing international efforts to regulate children’s access to social media. Several countries have introduced or are considering measures aimed at protecting minors from potential online harms.
Australia became the first country to implement a comprehensive ban on social media access for children under 16 in December 2025. Malaysia subsequently introduced restrictions under its Online Safety Act during 2026.
Indonesia also moved to restrict accounts belonging to users under 16, while Brazil introduced requirements linking accounts of younger users to a parent or guardian.
France approved legislation in July 2026 concerning social media access for children under 15, while Portugal introduced parental consent requirements for users between 13 and 16.
Similar measures are also being considered or developed in the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Slovenia, New Zealand, Spain, Austria and the European Union.
