Pakistan Proposes Social Media Age Ban Modeled on Australia’s Under‑16 Law

Pakistan has introduced the Social Media Age Restriction Bill 2025, barring users under 16 from joining social platforms, in a move modeled on Australia’s under‑16 ban.

As the sources claim, the bill is designed to reduce cyberbullying, exploitation, and causes of harm on the web among minors. The law will be enforced by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which will require everyone to be verified of their age digitally. Platforms not in compliance with the requirement may be slapped with fines of between PKR 50,000 and PKR 5 million (USD 176 and 17,700).

In a stricter provision than most countries, the bill includes the removal of existing underage accounts and up to six months in prison for individuals assisting minors in bypassing age checks.

The proposal has caused concern about privacy, along with the fairness, and how it will be enforced. Moreover, the critics, including digital rights groups like Medianama, have warned that these laws could lead to misuse by authoritarian governments. They fear it may allow for wide social media bans and the suppression of the conflict.

The advocates of this act believe that adding stricter age checks could save children. Nonetheless, critics state that social media may also offer significant support, not to mention teaching and creativity, to marginalized or isolated children. Some critics indicate that the advantages of social media to children who seek to pursue careers have been exaggerated. They observe that the social media has the potential to disorient the older industries involved in creativity.

There are also concerns about the social media bans and the age gates that will require age estimation and biometric facial verification, which some believe may deter children from seeking support or educational material online.

The bill displays an increasing worldwide interest in age assurance legislation, even though policymakers have found it challenging to reconcile child safety with rights to privacy and free expression.

Global Momentum: Countries Enforcing Age Assurance Laws

Pakistan’s move aligns with a broader global shift, as several countries have already implemented and expanded age assurance laws in the recent years, such as: 

Australia (July 2024): The nation has established an under-16 ban on social media in the country. The law stipulates the necessity of stringent age verification needs by checking government ID and operating by using facial age estimation technology, and continued monitoring of compliance.

United Kingdom (October 2023): The UK Online Safety Act sets forth the requirement for platforms to use age assurance during logging in and accessing adult material. The police enforcement of the law begins on July 25, 2025. Ofcom can impose penalties of up to 10% of revenue worldwide or even 18 million pounds on platforms that flout the requirements.

United States (2023 onward): The American State laws, like Utah’s parental consent rule for under‑18s, are for the child’s protection from any damage caused by social media. Similar Age verification laws are being passed in different states, with some facing legal battles in court.

European Union (February 2024): In Europe, the Digital Services Act mandates companies to conduct risk assessments among the minors. This implies that there are stronger age checks and regulations that have been applied in member countries.