Senate withdraws under-16 social media ban after backlash
The Senate is preparing to withdraw a private bill that sought to restrict social media use for children under 16, following strong objections from stakeholders. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senators behind the legislation confirmed that a revised version will be presented with significant amendments.
According to officials, the bill faced criticism over the strict age limit and the harsh punishments it outlined. Concerns were raised about proposals to block minors’ accounts and penalise companies for non-compliance.
On the advice of party leadership, PPP senators Masroor Ahsan and Sarmad Ali have agreed to withdraw the original draft, with a motion expected to be tabled in the Senate soon.
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The updated bill is likely to set a lower minimum age, with 13 or 14 years under consideration. The revised draft is also expected to soften punishments, replacing the proposed six-month prison sentence and Rs5 million fine with lighter penalties.
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Sources suggested that the new version will put greater emphasis on parental responsibility, ensuring families play a more active role in monitoring minors’ social media use.
The original Social Media (Age-Restricted Users) Bill 2025 was introduced in July and proposed a complete ban on access for anyone under 16.
It required social media companies to verify users’ ages and block underage accounts, with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) empowered to enforce compliance. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, YouTube, X, and Snapchat were all covered.
