Islamabad:
The Senate has introduced the “user bill)” social means (age restriction for users), which seeks to prohibit people under 16 from creating social media accounts.
The bill was presented by Senators Sarmad Ali and Masroor Ahmed on Monday, marking a significant step to safeguard minors of online exploitation, cyberbullying and harmful content.
The bill proposes severe sanctions for violations. Social network platforms that allow minor users to face fines ranging from RS50,000 to RS5 million. In addition, people who help minors to create accounts could face up to six months in prison.
The Telecommunications Authority (PTA) of Pakistan will be responsible for eliminating all existing social medium accounts, with the authority to write and implement regulations on the matter.
Read more: There are no lower than 16 on social networks: New Zealand
The bill places legal responsibility in social media companies to avoid access to minors, aligning Pakistan’s policy with those of Australia and New Zealand in an attempt to promote digital security.
Senator Sarmad Ali highlighted the government’s approach in protecting children in the digital age, noting that the bill is a vital measure to reduce online damage. It also aims to increase digital awareness between parents and children, ensuring a safer online environment for young users.
Last year, Australian legislators also approved a bill similar to the prohibition under 16 years of social networks, approving one of the most difficult repressions in the world in popular sites such as Facebook, Instagram and X.
The legislation ordered social media companies to take “reasonable measures” to prevent young adolescents from being approved in the Senate with 34 votes in favor and 19 against.
