The “Social Media (Age Limitation) Bill 2025” was introduced in the Senate on Monday, under which it is proposed to ban the creation of social media accounts for persons below the age of 16.

The bill, introduced by Senators Sarmad Ali and Masroor Ahmed, is being described as a major effort to protect minors from online exploitation, cyberbullying and harmful content.

The bill proposes strict penalties. If a social media platform allows minors to create accounts, it can be fined from Rs50,000 to Rs5 million. Moreover, if a person helps a minor to create an account, he can be imprisoned for up to six months.

According to the bill, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will be responsible for deleting all social media accounts that are owned by minors. The PTA will also have the authority to make and enforce rules and regulations in this regard.

The legislation will impose a legal obligation on social media companies to block access by minors, bringing Pakistan into line with the digital safety policies of developed countries like Australia and New Zealand.

Speaking on the bill, Senator Sarmad Ali, said that the government is giving top priority to protecting children in the digital age.

This bill is not just a piece of legislation but an awareness campaign to educate parents and children about the dangers of the online world.