Pakistan Social Media Ban for Children? 8th-Grade Student Petitions Lahore High Court

Following Australia’s lead, calls are emerging in Pakistan to ban social media for children under 16. Recently, an 8th-grade student, Alia Saleem, filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking restrictions on social media use for minors.

The petition argues that unrestricted social media access is detrimental to children’s mental, moral, and educational development, exposing them to harmful content and inappropriate online behavior at an early age. The student, through her lawyer Sheza, has made the Federal Government, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and other relevant agencies respondents in the case. The plea emphasizes the government’s responsibility to protect children’s fundamental rights and urges the court to consider a ban on social media use for minors.

This move follows similar steps taken by Australia, which recently prohibited social media for children under 16. Countries such as the UK and France are also exploring similar measures. In India, states like Andhra Pradesh have considered restricting social media for children under 16, citing concerns that minors cannot fully comprehend the content and need stronger legal safeguards.

There is no official decision yet from the Pakistan government regarding this petition, and the court’s ruling is awaited.