Social media accounts for under 16s to be banned, bill tabled

ISLAMABAD: A new bill has been tabled in the Senate, proposing a ban on social media accounts for individuals under 16 years of age.

Violators may face fines up to Rs5 million, while those helping minors create accounts could face six months in jail.

The “Social Media (Age Limit for Users) Bill 2025” was introduced by Senators Sarmad Ali and Masroor Ahsan. The bill places legal responsibility on social media companies to prevent underage users from creating accounts.

As per the bill, social media companies must block or delete accounts of minors,  Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will delete all existing accounts of users under 16.

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Anyone facilitating account creation for a minor could face jail and fines and social media platforms may be fined between Rs50,000 to Rs5 million for violations, according to the bill.

The bill aims to protect children from online exploitation, cyberbullying, and harmful content. The government also plans to launch digital awareness campaigns for parents and children.

The legislation is said to be aligned with policies already in place in Australia and New Zealand. PTA will have the authority to draft rules and offer clarifications under this law.