ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Upper House of the parliament on Monday saw the “Social Media (Age Restriction for Users) Bill 2025” tabled in the House, which seeks a complete ban on individuals under the age of 16 from creating social media accounts.
The Bill was jointly presented by Senators Sarmad Ali and Masroor Ahmed, marking a significant step towards safeguarding minors from online exploitation, cyberbullying, and harmful content.
The bill proposes severe penalties for violations. Social media platforms found to be allowing underage users, will face fines ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs5 million.
Furthermore, individuals who help minors in creating accounts could face up to six months in jail.
About the existing such accounts, the Bill proposed that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will be responsible for deleting all existing social media accounts of minors, with the authority mandated to draft and implement regulations concerning the matter.
The Bill makes social media companies legally responsible to prevent underage access, aligning the country’s policy with those of Australia and New Zealand in a bid to foster digital safety.
Senator Sarmad Ali while highlighting the government’s focus on protecting children in this digital age said that the proposed Bill is a vital measure to reduce online harms.
It also aims to raise digital awareness among both parents and children, ensuring a safer online environment for young users, according to the Bill.
Last year, Australian lawmakers also passed a similar bill to ban social media for under 16s, approving one of the world’s toughest crackdowns on popular sites like Facebook, Instagram and X.
Key provisions of the Bill
According to the text of the bill, any person or company found allowing access to social media platforms to users under 16 could face a fine ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs5 million. In more serious violations, individuals may face up to six months in jail.
The proposed Bill makes it mandatory for social media companies to verify users’ age and block accounts belonging to minors.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will serve as the regulatory body empowered to shut down accounts of underage users, and chalk out and implement rules and procedures.
Covered Social Media platforms
The proposed ban applies to all major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, YouTube, X, Snapchat, Bigo Live, Threads, and others.
Senate Chairman Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani has referred the Bill to the standing committee concerned for further review.
If passed, this would mark a major policy shift in Pakistan’s digital regulatory framework.
