Social media accounts of people below 16 years to be banned

ISLAMABAD: A new bill has been introduced into the Senate, calling for social media accounts to be banned for people below 16 years of age. Perpetrators can be fined up to Rs5 million, while assisting children in opening accounts can land them six months in prison.

The “Social Media (Age Limit for Users) Bill 2025” was presented by Senators Sarmad Ali and Masroor Ahsan. The bill holds social media companies legally liable for ensuring that no underage users can create social media accounts.

According to the bill, social media companies will block or remove the accounts of minors, while the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will remove all existing user accounts of persons under the age of 16.

Anyone helping create an account for a minor can be jailed and fined, and social media companies can be fined Rs50,000 to Rs5 million for offenses, the bill reads.

The bill seeks to safeguard children from exploitation on the internet, bullying on the internet, and objectionable material. The government also intends to initiate digital awareness campaigns among children and parents.

The act is reported to be in tandem with policy that has already been established in Australia and New Zealand. Under the law, PTA will be empowered to promulgate rules and provide clarifications.