In a significant move highlighting growing national concern, senators from across Pakistan's political spectrum united on Friday to demand a complete or partial ban on social media access for children under 18 years of age. The call, made during the winter session of the Senate, underscores serious warnings about the detrimental impact of unmonitored online platforms on the mental and physical well-being of the country's youth.
A Unified Call for Action in the Senate
The demand was presented through a call attention notice, drawing the focus of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication. Lawmakers from the PTI, PML-N, ANP, and an independent member collectively highlighted the dangers of excessive and unmonitored use of social media applications by minor children, which they argued makes young users vulnerable to online harassment and exploitation.
PTI Senator Falak Naz, one of the key movers, stated that a majority of Pakistani children under 18 are using platforms like TikTok and Instagram without any legal restrictions or parental oversight. She linked this unchecked access to dangerous trends and cited the tragic case of 17-year-old TikTok influencer Sana Yousaf, who was recently killed. "I demand of the government to form a comprehensive legal framework and impose a ban on the use of Tik Tok, Instagram, VPNs and other social media accounts by children under 18," Senator Naz asserted.
She further emphasized that parental presence should be mandatory for age verification processes required to open social media accounts, alongside other preventive measures.
Proposing a Multi-Faceted National Strategy
The debate revealed that senators view this as a complex issue requiring a coordinated national response beyond the mandate of a single ministry. PTI Senator Fawzia Arshad stressed the critical nature of the problem for all parents, calling for collective effort. She advocated for mandatory counseling in educational institutions to guide children away from the negative uses of social media, noting that the ages between 16 and 18 are particularly vulnerable.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhary labeled the matter a national issue of urgent importance. He recommended involving all relevant stakeholders, including the ministries of education and interior, and suggested reviewing the curriculum for necessary changes. "This is not a challenge for Pakistan but an international issue," he remarked, pointing out that no country has yet found a perfect solution. He also proposed engaging the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in a comprehensive effort.
Towards a Special Parliamentary Committee
Presiding Officer Senator Sherry Rehman of the PPP proposed a concrete way forward. Recognizing that the Senate's standing committee on IT could not handle the issue alone, she suggested forming a special House committee with the approval of Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani. This committee would include representatives from the federal ministries of IT, interior, and education, all parliamentary parties, and provincial governments.
Senator Rehman also noted that the committee should examine Senator Afnan Ullah Khan's pending bill on data protection, which includes provisions for setting a legal age for social media account creation. While acknowledging that Australia has enacted similar legislation, Senator Rehman clarified she was not inherently in favor of an outright ban. "It is an education tool as well, but we should see every aspect and need to move forward judiciously," she concluded, calling for a balanced and thoughtful approach to safeguarding Pakistan's children in the digital age.
