Senate introduces bill to ban social media accounts for under 16s

Senate has introduced the "Social Media (Age Restriction for Users) Bill 2025," which seeks to ban individuals under the age of 16 from creating social media accounts. The bill was presented by Senators Sarmad Ali and Masroor Ahmed on Monday, 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 assist minors in creating accounts could face up to six months in prison. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will be responsible for deleting all existing social media accounts of minors, with the authority to draft and implement regulations concerning the matter. Read More: No under-16s on social media: New Zealand The bill places legal responsibility on social media companies to prevent underage access, aligning Pakistan's policy with those of Australia and New Zealand in a bid to foster digital safety. Senator Sarmad Ali highlighted the government's focus on protecting children in the digital age, noting that the 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. Last year, Australian lawmakers also passed a similar bill to ban under 16s from social media, approving one of the world's toughest crackdowns on popular sites like Facebook, Instagram and X. The legislation ordered social media firms to take "reasonable steps" to prevent young teens from having accounts was passed in the Senate with 34 votes in favour and 19 against.

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