A petition filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeks federal legislation to restrict children under 16 from using social media in Pakistan.
The petition was filed on behalf of Waqas Nasir. Lawyers Jalal Haider, Yahya Farid Khwaja and Muhammad Zeshan Ali filed the case.
The petition highlights several risks linked to children using online platforms. These include cyberbullying, sexual exploitation and exposure to harmful content.
The petition calls for a nationwide law covering children and teenagers below the age of 16. It also proposes stronger measures to identify underage users.
PTA and NADRA Could Verify Users
The proposal focuses on age verification instead of relying only on parental controls.
Lawyer Jalal Haider said the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and NADRA should work together. They could develop a system to identify users under 16.
The proposed mechanism would stop children below the age limit from creating or operating social media accounts.
The petition also suggests penalties for parents who help children bypass the restrictions. It further asks social media platforms to follow Pakistani laws.
Haider said the petition is based on the legal principle of parens patriae. This principle allows the state to act as a guardian for minors.
He also claimed that many Pakistani TikTok users are under 16. However, the petition did not provide supporting data for this claim.
DataReportal estimated that TikTok had 79.9 million users aged 18 and above in Pakistan. The figure was recorded in late 2025.
Australia Cited as an Example
The petition refers to Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024.
Australia requires covered platforms to take reasonable steps against underage accounts. The law focuses mainly on platform responsibility.
Under the Australian model, parents and children are not the primary parties responsible for enforcement.
The petition seeks similar federal legislation for Pakistan. Such a law would make the proposed restrictions applicable across the country.
Pakistan had around 117 million internet users in late 2025, according to DataReportal. The country also had around 79.9 million social media user identities.
These social media identities represented 31.2% of Pakistan’s population. DataReportal has clarified that user identities may not represent unique individuals.
The petition argues that stronger protections are needed for children online. It seeks legal measures to reduce their exposure to digital risks.
In other news read more about IHC Petition Seeks Social Media Regulation for Under-16 Children
However, the IHC has not ordered the federal government to introduce such legislation. The proposed Social Media restrictions remain part of the petition at this stage.
