IHC Seeks Government Response on Social Media Rules for Children

Islamabad (GNP): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought responses from the federal government and key regulatory authorities on a petition seeking a legal framework to regulate social media access for children under 16, as concerns grow over online safety risks facing minors in Pakistan.

IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar issued notices to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Law and Justice, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), directing all respondents to submit replies within 15 days.

The petition, filed earlier this month, calls for legislation governing children’s social media use and the introduction of a reliable age-verification mechanism for accounts operated by minors. During Monday’s hearing, the court was told that children face growing risks online, including cyberbullying, harassment and exposure to age-inappropriate content, with the petitioner’s counsel arguing that an effective age-verification mechanism was needed to prevent unsafe access.

When the court asked whether PEMRA had any existing law addressing children’s access to social media, counsel said the regulator could act on complaints but that no specific legislation currently governs the issue. The court further asked whether any dedicated law had been enacted to date, to which counsel confirmed none had been introduced so far.

The petition urges the government to develop a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework covering children’s digital rights, privacy, and mental and physical safety, while also seeking clearly defined obligations for social media companies to protect underage users.

It argues that protecting children’s best interests is a constitutional and legal responsibility of the state, citing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and General Comment No. 25 to support the case for treating child safety online as a binding legal obligation rather than a matter of policy discretion.

The petition also notes that several countries have already introduced age restrictions and related safety measures for children on social media, arguing that Pakistan should adopt a similar legal framework in line with international efforts to protect children in digital spaces.

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The issue has also drawn political attention beyond the courts. Last month, a legislator in the Punjab Assembly submitted a resolution calling for a nationwide ban on social media accounts for children under 16 without parental consent, urging the provincial government to press the federal government for comprehensive legislation and stronger online safety measures.

The IHC proceedings come amid a wider international shift towards tighter social media regulations for children. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 25 member and accession candidate economies had age restrictions on social media either in force, enacted or under active consideration as of April 2026, up from just one such economy in 2023.

Australia has already implemented a nationwide minimum age of 16 for social media accounts, while other countries continue to develop similar measures. UNICEF has also documented a rising number of jurisdictions introducing or considering age-based restrictions, while emphasising that such limits should form part of broader child protection measures online rather than serve as a standalone solution.