LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution calling for a legal ban on social media accounts for children under the age of 16.
The resolution was presented in the assembly by lawmaker Sarah Ahmed, who said protecting children’s physical, mental, psychological and moral development was a responsibility of the state.
She argued that excessive social media use was exposing children to risks including cyberbullying and online sexual exploitation. The resolution stated that children were also increasingly vulnerable to inappropriate content, psychological stress and other serious risks associated with social media.
The resolution recommends that the federal government introduce legislation prohibiting social media accounts for children under 16.
It also calls on the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to establish an effective age-verification system across social media platforms. Social media companies should also be required to promptly prevent harmful content and provide a safer digital environment for children, according to the resolution.
The resolution noted that countries including Australia, France, China and the United States have introduced regulations concerning children’s use of social media. It said legislation in Pakistan was also necessary to ensure a safer future for children in light of international developments.
It further called for federal and provincial institutions to launch digital-awareness campaigns for parents, teachers and children focused on safe internet use.
The resolution also urged the establishment of a coordinated system between federal and provincial institutions, along with effective legislation aimed at strengthening the online protection of children.
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