Case Registered to Ban Social Media for Children

Islamabad High Court Issues Notices in Case Seeking Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority in proceedings concerning a proposed ban on social media accounts for children under 16. The development follows a request to include both institutions in a petition seeking stronger legal safeguards for minors online, including age verification and parental supervision.

Petition Seeks Comprehensive Child Protection Framework

The petition calls for a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework to protect children from online risks, including cyberbullying, harassment, sexual exploitation, inappropriate content and excessive social media use.

It seeks restrictions on social media accounts for children below the age of 16, alongside a reliable mechanism to verify users’ ages. The proposed framework would also introduce measures to strengthen parental oversight of children's online activities.

The applicant has asked the court to examine NADRA’s potential role in establishing an age-verification system and the regulatory authority’s capacity to address complaints, protect personal data and hold social media platforms accountable.

Why NADRA’s Role Matters

Age verification is likely to be a central challenge if Pakistan moves towards restricting social media access for minors. NADRA maintains identity records that could potentially support age checks, but any such system would need a clear legal basis and appropriate safeguards for children’s personal information.

A workable system would also have to account for children who do not possess their own identity documents, users who share devices with family members and the possibility of people bypassing age restrictions.

The court proceedings could help clarify which institutions would be responsible for designing and enforcing such a system. However, the issuance of notices does not mean that NADRA has been directed to introduce a verification mechanism or that a ban has been approved.

Existing Law Leaves a Regulatory Gap

The case comes amid wider debate over whether Pakistan’s current legal framework gives regulators sufficient authority to restrict social media access based on age.

In a separate response submitted to the IHC earlier in October, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said existing law did not empower it to impose a blanket minimum age of 16 for social media users or independently establish a mandatory age-verification regime. The regulator argued that new legislation and a clearer policy framework would be required.

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, also provides for the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, which is intended to play a role in social media regulation. Defining the responsibilities of the relevant institutions will be important if the government pursues restrictions on children’s access to online platforms.

Child Safety Versus Privacy and Access

Supporters of tighter restrictions argue that children need stronger protection from harmful content, online exploitation, harassment and platform features that encourage excessive use. Parents and child-protection advocates have also raised concerns about the effects of unrestricted online activity on children’s well-being.

A ban, however, would raise practical questions about enforcement, privacy and access to useful online services. Social media platforms are also used for education, communication and creative activities, making it important to distinguish between reducing harmful exposure and unnecessarily limiting legitimate use.

Any age-verification system would need to minimise the collection of sensitive information, prevent misuse of identity data and establish clear procedures for appeals and complaints. Platforms would also need to explain how they would detect underage accounts without creating excessive barriers for adult users.

What Happens Next

The IHC’s latest notices concern the request to bring NADRA and the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority into the proceedings. The move does not itself establish a nationwide ban or impose new restrictions on children’s accounts.

Further progress will depend on the court’s consideration of the case, the responses from the relevant institutions and whether the government introduces legislation giving regulators clear authority to enforce age-based restrictions.

For now, social media use by children under 16 has not been prohibited nationwide under a new law arising from these proceedings. The case places the focus on whether Pakistan can establish a legally sound and technically workable child online-safety framework.