The Punjab Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution calling for measures to restrict social media access for children under the age of 16, placing greater emphasis on protecting young users from online risks.

The resolution, moved by Punjab Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Chairperson and MPA Sarah Ahmed, seeks stronger legislation, age-verification systems and improved coordination between government institutions to create a safer digital environment for children.

The development comes amid growing international debate over how governments should regulate children’s access to social media. While supporters of tighter restrictions argue that young users face increasing exposure to harmful online material, critics in several countries have raised concerns about privacy, enforcement and freedom of expression.

Punjab Assembly Calls for Under-16 Social Media Restrictions

The Punjab Assembly’s resolution recommends that effective legislation be introduced to protect children below the age of 16 from risks associated with unrestricted access to social media platforms.

Rather than focusing solely on individual platforms, the recommendations call for a broader regulatory framework designed to address several forms of online harm.

The resolution specifically highlights concerns involving cyber harassment, online sexual exploitation and inappropriate content. It also calls for mechanisms capable of identifying users who are below the permitted age.

The move reflects growing concern among policymakers that existing age restrictions on social media platforms may not be sufficient to prevent children from accessing services intended for older users.

Age Verification at Centre of Proposed Measures

One of the most significant recommendations is the introduction of an effective age-verification mechanism across social media platforms.

Many major platforms currently set minimum age requirements for users, but determining whether an account holder has provided an accurate age can be difficult. The Punjab resolution seeks a more effective system that would allow platforms to identify underage users and prevent them from accessing restricted services.

However, implementing age verification on a large scale could raise practical questions surrounding privacy, data protection and the technology required to authenticate users without unnecessarily collecting sensitive personal information.

The effectiveness of any future regulatory framework would therefore depend not only on establishing an age threshold but also on developing a system that can be implemented consistently while protecting users’ privacy.

Protection From Cyber Harassment and Exploitation

The resolution places particular emphasis on protecting children from some of the most serious risks associated with online activity.

Cyber harassment can expose young users to intimidation, abuse and sustained psychological pressure, while online sexual exploitation remains a major concern for child-protection authorities around the world.

The proposed measures also seek protection from inappropriate content that may be unsuitable for children.

By identifying these risks, the Punjab Assembly has framed social media regulation as a child-protection issue rather than simply a question of limiting access to technology.

Sarah Ahmed said providing children with a safe childhood and secure digital future should remain a priority. She also stressed the state’s responsibility to protect the best interests of children and establish an effective regulatory framework for their digital safety.

Coordination Between Federal and Provincial Authorities

Another key element of the resolution is the call for coordination between federal and provincial institutions.

Social media platforms operate across national borders, while digital regulation involves multiple government bodies. This can make enforcement complicated when responsibilities are divided among different institutions.

The proposed coordinated mechanism would aim to improve cooperation between relevant authorities in dealing with online threats to children.

Such coordination could become particularly important if Pakistan moves from recommendations toward formal legislation and enforcement procedures.

Global Debate Over Children’s Social Media Access

Punjab’s proposal comes as governments around the world debate whether children should be given unrestricted access to social media.

Countries including China, the United Arab Emirates and Türkiye have introduced or considered measures aimed at limiting young people’s access to social platforms. Australia has taken one of the most far-reaching approaches, becoming the first country to impose a social media ban for users under 16.

The international experience demonstrates that regulating children’s online activity is not straightforward. Governments must balance child safety against concerns surrounding freedom of expression, access to information and digital participation.

France has also faced legal challenges to proposed restrictions. Its top court recently blocked legislation aimed at banning social media access for under-15s, citing concerns related to freedom of expression.

Social Media Companies Face Greater Pressure

The proposed restrictions could also increase pressure on social media companies to strengthen their existing child-safety systems.

Platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat generally require users to meet a minimum age before creating accounts. However, child-protection advocates have argued that age restrictions can be difficult to enforce when users provide inaccurate information during registration.

The Punjab resolution therefore places responsibility not only on children and parents but also on technology companies to comply with stronger child-protection standards.

The approach could require platforms to improve age detection, content moderation and mechanisms for reporting abuse.

Debate Likely to Continue in Pakistan

The resolution does not itself amount to a blanket nationwide social media ban for everyone under 16. Instead, it recommends that appropriate legislation and regulatory mechanisms be developed to restrict access and strengthen protection for young users.

That distinction is important as the proposal moves into the broader policy and legislative process.

The issue is also being considered at the national level. The Islamabad High Court has separately sought responses from relevant authorities in a case concerning regulation of children’s social media use, indicating that the question is becoming an increasingly important legal and policy issue in Pakistan.

What Could Happen Next?

The next stage will likely involve determining how any proposed restrictions could be implemented, monitored and enforced.

Authorities would need to establish the precise age threshold, identify which platforms would fall under the rules and determine how age verification would operate.

They would also need to address privacy safeguards, parental involvement, platform responsibilities and penalties for non-compliance.

For children, the central objective remains protection from harmful online experiences while allowing appropriate access to technology and information.

Punjab’s unanimous resolution signals growing political support for stronger safeguards for young social media users. Whether it eventually leads to binding legislation will depend on subsequent policy decisions, consultations and the development of an enforceable regulatory framework.