Punjab Assembly seeks social media ban for children under 16

Punjab Assembly has unanimously asked the federal government to bar social media access for children under 16. The move reflects mounting alarm over cyberbullying, exploitation and harmful screen exposure among minors.Image used for representational purposes onlyPakistan's Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution seeking an effective legal ban on social media accounts for children under 16, amid rising concern over cyberbullying, online exploitation and the effects of excessive screen time on minors.The House unanimously adopted the resolution on Tuesday and recommended that the federal government bring in suitable legislation to restrict social media access for children below 16. The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf also supported the move.The resolution was tabled by lawmaker Sarah Ahmad, who is also the chairperson of the Child Protection Bureau. According to the Punjab Assembly spokesperson, it called for comprehensive legislation and a coordinated mechanism involving federal and provincial institutions to protect children from growing dangers in the digital world."Unrestricted access to social media is exposing minors to a range of threats, including cyberbullying, online sexual exploitation, inappropriate content and mental stress," the resolution said. It also referred to steps taken by Australia, France, China and several US states to regulate children's access to social media, and urged the government to put similar legal safeguards in place in Pakistan. The move comes at a time when governments across the world are dealing with concerns over children's online safety, including the impact of excessive social media use, cyber abuse and exposure to harmful content. Australia and several European countries have recently moved towards stricter age-based curbs, while others are considering tougher age-verification rules and stronger laws to protect children online.In sum, the Punjab Assembly has asked Pakistan's federal government to enact laws restricting social media access for children under 16 and to create a coordinated system to address online risks faced by minors. With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 2, 2026 13:46 IST