Pakistan Proposes Strict Social Media Curbs to Protect Minors Online

ISLAMABAD: In a major move to bolster digital safety, a high-level advisory body has recommended strict measures to restrict social media contact between children under the age of 16 and unknown adults. The proposal aims to curb the growing threat of online harassment, grooming, and exploitation targeting minors across various digital platforms in Pakistan.

The recommendation, put forward during a policy review meeting on cyber safety, urges the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and relevant ministries to mandate age-verification mechanisms for social media platforms. Under the proposed guidelines, tech giants operating in the country would be legally obligated to implement default privacy settings for minor accounts, preventing unsolicited direct messages and friend requests from unverified adult profiles. Officials emphasized that these measures are critical to establishing a secure digital ecosystem for the youth.

Digital rights advocates and child protection experts have welcomed the initiative, noting that Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in cybercrimes targeting children over the past few years. However, experts also warn that enforcing strict age-verification protocols will require robust data privacy frameworks to prevent the misuse of personal identification documents. The policy is expected to impact major global platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, forcing them to align their local operations with Pakistan’s evolving child protection laws.

The draft recommendations are slated to be presented to the federal cabinet for formal approval in the coming weeks. Following legislative approval, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, in coordination with the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing, will draft the operational rules to ensure compliance and penalize non-compliant platforms.