Pakistan’s FCC Asked to Restrict Social Media for Under-16

A petition before Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court seeks to restrict social media access for children under 16, introduce mandatory age verification and strengthen safeguards against cyberbullying, harmful content and online exploitation.

Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has been approached with a petition seeking restrictions on social media access for children under the age of 16, bringing the debate over child safety and digital regulation into the country’s constitutional justice system.

The petition was filed at the Lahore registry by lawyers Sheraz Zaka and Moin Akhtar. The petitioners have asked the court to direct the federal government to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, and introduce a mandatory age-verification mechanism for social media users under 16.

According to Dawn’s report, the petitioners argue that Pakistani children are being exposed to cyberbullying, addictive platform designs, sexualised content and the glorification of alcohol. They claim that such exposure can harm children’s mental, emotional and moral development.

A central argument in the petition is that “no Pakistani law currently mandates age verification for social media access.” The petitioners maintain that PECA 2016 does not contain a specific restriction preventing children under 16 from using social media platforms.

The plea also asks the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to enforce its existing Code of Conduct more strictly. The petitioners allege that television dramas and advertisements containing intimate scenes or depictions of alcohol are sometimes broadcast during hours when children are likely to be watching.

The petition comes amid growing political and legal attention to children’s online safety. The Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution seeking a legal ban on social media accounts for children under 16 and calling for an effective age-verification system across digital platforms. The resolution also urged greater awareness among parents, teachers and children.

The Express Tribune reported that the FCC petition seeks mandatory age verification and stronger safeguards against cyberbullying, addiction, sexualised content and other harmful material.

The petitioners have cited Australia, Italy and Brazil as examples of countries that have introduced restrictions on social media access for younger users. They argue that similar measures are both possible and necessary in Pakistan.

They have also asked the government to coordinate with social media companies on parental controls and child-protection tools. In addition, the petition calls for action on Pakistan’s education crisis, including the country’s large number of out-of-school children and high dropout rates.

The petitioners claim that the state’s failure to protect children violates constitutional guarantees relating to life, dignity, equality, education and family protection. They have also referred to Pakistan’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The case raises difficult questions about privacy, digital rights, enforcement and age verification. Any nationwide restriction would require a clear legal framework explaining how children’s ages would be verified without creating new risks involving personal data.

For now, the petition represents another major development in Pakistan’s debate over children’s access to social media. It remains to be seen whether the FCC will issue directions to the government, seek responses from the relevant authorities or require lawmakers to develop specific legislation.