Senators debate social media ban for under-18s in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Senators on Friday debated the proposal of imposing a social media ban for under-18s in Pakistan, as concerns grow over the negative impact of platforms such as TikTok on children and adolescents.
The discussion took place during a Senate session presided over by Senator Sherry Rehman, where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Falak Naz moved a calling attention notice regarding the increasing use of social media by underage children.
Raising the issue, Senator Falak Naz called for banning children below the age of 18 from accessing social media platforms, terming the matter a serious concern for parents and society. She said unchecked exposure to digital platforms was affecting children’s mental health, behaviour and social development.
Speaking during the debate, PTI Senator Fauzia Arshad said the widespread use of social media among children had become a major source of anxiety for parents and was contributing to various social problems. She stressed that the government, parents and educational institutions must work together to develop effective safeguards.
Responding to the calling attention notice, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary said the issue was of national importance and required a collective and balanced approach. He added that the government had no objection to forming a special committee to examine the matter in detail and emphasised the need for coordination among all relevant ministries and institutions.
Presiding Officer Senator Sherry Rehman referred the matter to the relevant committee for further deliberation. She also cited Australia as an international example, noting that Canberra had recently imposed restrictions on social media use for children under the age of 16.
Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, ordering major platforms including TikTok, YouTube and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram to block underage users or face fines of up to A$49.5 million. The move, which came into effect under legislation passed in late 2025, has been welcomed by many parents and child rights advocates, though criticised by technology companies and free-speech groups.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had described the decision as “a proud day” for families, saying it demonstrated that policymakers could act to curb online harms that had outpaced traditional safeguards.
The Senate committee is expected to review international practices and local legal frameworks before presenting its recommendations on whether a social media ban for under-18s can be implemented in Pakistan.
