IHC Seeks Govt, PTA Replies on Social Media Rules for Under-16s

The Islamabad High Court has sought responses from federal ministries and key regulators on a petition calling for tighter controls on social media use by children under the age of 16. The case, heard in Islamabad by IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar, asks the court to consider measures including age verification and a broader legal framework aimed at protecting minors online.

The court issued notices to the Ministry of Information Technology, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Law. It also directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to submit their responses, bringing several of the country's principal communications and regulatory bodies into the proceedings.

The petition seeks an effective mechanism for verifying the ages of children who create or use social media accounts. Lawyers representing the petitioner argued that minors require stronger protection from cyberbullying, online harassment and potentially harmful digital material. They maintained that protecting children's interests in the online environment falls within the state's constitutional and legal responsibilities.

During the hearing, the court questioned whether PEMRA currently had legislation covering the issue. The petitioner's counsel said there was no specific law regulating social media use by children under 16, although existing regulatory mechanisms provide authorities with powers in other areas. The petition therefore asks for a more comprehensive legal and regulatory structure dealing specifically with children's access to social platforms.

The lawyers also referred to approaches adopted or considered in other countries. They cited Australia's measures concerning social media access for younger users, France's parental-consent requirements for some minors, the United Kingdom's child-safety provisions under its Online Safety Act and proposals discussed in countries including New Zealand and Spain. These examples were presented to support the argument that child-focused digital regulation has become an expanding international policy issue.

The case could become significant for Pakistan's technology and communications sector if it leads to new requirements for social platforms, regulators or users. An age-verification framework would raise practical questions about how platforms confirm a user's age, what responsibilities companies would carry and how authorities would balance child protection with access to digital services. At this stage, however, the court has not ordered a ban on social media use by children under 16 and has not announced a final regulatory model.

The immediate next step is for the ministries, PTA and PEMRA to respond to the notices issued by the Islamabad High Court. Their submissions are expected to clarify the government's current legal position, the powers available to regulators and whether new legislation or administrative measures are considered necessary. The court will then be able to assess the petition in light of those official responses.

For Pakistani families, schools, regulators and technology companies, the proceedings place children's online safety firmly within a national legal debate. Any eventual decision or legislation could shape how younger users access social media and how digital platforms operating in Pakistan are expected to address age verification and safeguards for minors.