LAHORE, Sep 02 (Alliance News): The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution calling for a legal ban on social media accounts for children under 16 years of age, citing concerns over their mental, psychological and overall well-being.
The resolution was moved by treasury lawmaker Sarah Ahmad during the session.
It urged the federal government, through the Punjab government, to introduce an effective legal framework restricting social media use by children under 16, while allowing access subject to parental or legal guardian consent and reliable age-verification mechanisms.
The resolution stated that protecting the physical, mental, psychological and moral development of children was the responsibility of the state.
It also highlighted concerns that inappropriate and harmful content on social media was exposing children to mental stress and other risks.
The House recommended that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) direct social media platforms to introduce effective age-verification systems and comply with child protection standards.
It further called for social media companies to promptly restrict harmful content and provide a safer digital environment for minors.
The resolution also urged federal and provincial institutions to launch sustained awareness campaigns for parents, teachers and children about digital safety and responsible internet use.
It stressed the need for coordination between federal and provincial authorities and effective legislation to strengthen the online protection of children.
