Federal Constitutional Court moved for ban on social media use by kids under 16

Federal Constitutional Court moved for ban on social media employ by kids under 16.

Key points

• The Newspaper's Staff Reporter Published September 9, 2026 Updated September 9, 2026 08: 24am.
• The petitioners assert that the government's failure to act violates articles 9, 14, 25, 25-A and 35 of the Constitution.
• Citing examples of Australia, Italy, and Brazil as countries that have already imposed under-16 social media bans, the petitioners argue that such regulation is both feasible and necessary.
• They additionally seek a direction to the administration for coordination with social media platforms on parental controls and action on out-of-school children and dropout rates.
• The petitioners describe it as the first such petition filed in the country on the matter.

For context, the Newspaper's Staff Reporter Published September 9, 2026 Updated September 9, 2026 08: 24am. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

LAHORE: A petition has been filed before the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), seeking directions to shield children under 16 from unrestricted social media employ and indecent content on television and other platforms.

Two lawyers, Sheraz Zaka and Moin Akhtar, filed the petition at the Lahore registry, with the former identifying himself as an activist and the latter as the father of a minor child.

Meanwhile, the petitioners argue that Pakistani children are being exposed to cyber bullying, addictive platform design, sexualised content and the glorification of alcohol – all of which they say harm children's mental and moral development.

They claim that no Pakistani law at present mandates age verification for social media access, noting that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016, contains no specific restriction for users under 16.

Citing examples of Australia, Italy, and Brazil as countries that have already imposed under-16 social media bans, the petitioners argue that such regulation is both feasible and necessary. Plea claims no law mandates age verification for social media access.

They allege that the Pemra failed to enforce its own code of conduct, allowing dramas and containing intimate scenes and alcohol depictions to air during hours when children are probable watching.

Notably, the petitioners additionally refer to Pakistan's broader education crisis, citing figures that roughly 25 million children in the country are out of school – reportedly the highest number of out-of-school children anywhere in the world.

For context, the petitioners assert that the government's failure to act violates articles 9, 14, 25, 25-A and 35 of the Constitution. It guard the rights to life, dignity, equality, education and family protection. They additionally invoke the Convention on the Rights of the Child and a prior Lahore High Court ruling (PLD 2020 Lahore 137) that directed the state to legislate on human rights and social matters.

For context, the lawyers ask the FFC to direct the federal administration to amend Peca 2016 to restrict social media access for under-16s with an age-verification mechanism, and and order to the Pemra to strictly enforce content standards during child-viewing hours.

For context, the petitioners describe it as the first such petition filed in the country on the matter.

For context, the federal administration through the ministry of law and justice, the ministry of information technology, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, the Pemra and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority have been listed as respondents in the petition. Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2026.

Taken together, the developments around federal Constitutional Court moved for ban on social media use by kids point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.