Islamabad (Web Desk) – Countries around the world are introducing stricter laws governing children’s use of social media to protect their moral development, mental and physical well-being, and online safety.
According to international reports, many governments are introducing new regulations and age verification systems to protect children from online risks, inappropriate content, and excessive digital dependence.
Reports state that Australia has banned social media use for children under the age of 16. Social media platforms that fail to comply with the law could face fines of up to $49.5 million.
China has implemented device-level restrictions and special regulations for various applications under its Minor Mode program to limit and safeguard the online activities of underage users.
Similarly, Indonesia has imposed a ban on social media use for individuals under the age of 16 to protect nearly 70 million children from online risks.
Brazil has made it mandatory for social media accounts belonging to users under the age of 16 to be linked to a legal guardian, enabling parents or guardians to effectively monitor children's online activities.
Türkiye has also imposed restrictions on social media use for children under the age of 15, making effective age verification a mandatory requirement.
According to experts, such measures are essential for protecting children from online threats. They believe that Pakistan also needs comprehensive legislation on safe internet use for children, age verification, and stronger oversight of social media platforms.