IHC Delays Hearing on Under-16 Social Media Regulation Petition

The Islamabad High Court on Friday postponed proceedings on a petition seeking a legal framework to regulate social media access for children below the age of 16 in Pakistan. The case could not proceed because Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar was unavailable, leaving unresolved a petition that could eventually influence how minors use major online platforms in the country.

The petition was filed by citizen Waqas Nasir through advocates Muhammad Jalal Haider and Yahya Fareed Khawaja. It had been scheduled for hearing on Thursday but was not taken up. The petitioner is asking the court to direct federal authorities to develop legislation and regulatory safeguards specifically addressing social media accounts operated by children younger than 16.

A central demand is the creation of an effective age-verification mechanism capable of determining whether users meet any minimum-age requirement imposed under a future regulatory system. The petition also calls for broader protections against cyberbullying, online harassment and exposure to content considered harmful to children. It seeks a coordinated framework covering children's privacy, digital rights and their mental and physical well-being while using online services.

The case names several major federal institutions as respondents, including the Ministry of Information Technology, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Law, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority. Their inclusion reflects the cross-government nature of the issue, which involves telecommunications regulation, legislation, online safety, information policy and enforcement rather than the responsibility of a single agency.

In support of its case, the petition points to measures adopted or considered in other countries. It refers to Australia's restrictions concerning social media accounts for children under 16, France's parental-consent requirements for younger users and protections contained in the United Kingdom's Online Safety Act 2023. Proposed measures in New Zealand and Spain concerning under-16 social media access are also cited as examples of a wider international debate over children's digital safety.

The petitioner has additionally relied on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and related guidance concerning children's rights in digital environments. The argument presented to the court is that protecting minors online should be treated as part of the state's wider responsibility to safeguard their interests. The petition therefore seeks not only restrictions on access but also parental safeguards, protection from harmful material and a dedicated mechanism focused on children's use of social media.

The proceedings could have significant implications for Pakistan because any eventual court direction or subsequent legislation could affect families, technology companies and millions of younger internet users. No nationwide under-16 social media restriction has been approved through this case, and the court has not issued a substantive ruling on the petition. The matter remains pending following the adjournment, with the next stage expected to depend on the case being listed again and the court considering the petition and responses from the relevant government authorities.