Pakistan Considers Imposing Age Restrictions on Social Media Platforms

A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking to ban social media use for children under the age of 16, following similar measures in countries like Australia, the UK, and France. The petition was submitted by Class 8 student Aliya Saleem through her lawyer, Sheeza, naming the federal government, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and other relevant agencies as respondents.

The petition argues that social media negatively impacts the mental, moral, and educational development of children. It claims that unrestricted access to these platforms exposes minors to harmful content and unhealthy online behavior, contributing to psychological issues that could affect their personality and future well-being.

The petitioner emphasized that the state has a constitutional responsibility to protect the fundamental rights of children and urged the court to consider imposing age-based restrictions on social media use as part of that duty.