Cannot Ban Social Media for Children: PTA

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has informed the Islamabad High Court that it does not have legal authority to ban children under 16 from using social media or produce age verification mandatory throughout platforms.

Key points

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• Age restrictions adopted in countries such as Australia and throughout the European Union are based on their own laws and cannot automatically provide PTA similar powers in Pakistan.
• Nevertheless, setting 16 as the minimum social media age, creating a universal age database or imposing mandatory age verification on platforms would require explicit legislation.
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In its report in Writ Petition No. 4163 of 2026, the PTA remarked Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, allows it to block or remove unlawful online content on specified legal grounds. It does not authorize the regulator to set a minimum age for social media users or introduce a universal age-verification system. PTA Wants More Power Over Telecom Transactions.

PTA remarked such a system would require a separate legal and regulatory framework covering verification methods, responsibility for checking users' ages, handling of identity information, privacy safeguards, platform compliance, audits and penalties.

In practice, the regulator remarked it cannot introduce these requirements through an administrative order in the absence of specific legal authority.

PTA remarked it can continue to process complaints, review noted content, coordinate with social media platforms and take blocking action where permitted under existing law.

Nevertheless, setting 16 as the minimum social media age, creating a universal age database or imposing mandatory age verification on platforms would require explicit legislation. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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In short, cannot Ban Social Media for Children: PTA is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.