The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has urged parents to closely monitor their children’s use of mobile phones, tablets and laptops to protect them from online risks.
The authority has advised parents to limit children’s daily screen time and ensure they maintain a healthy balance between education, entertainment, rest and family activities.
According to the PTA’s guidelines, children should preferably use digital devices under adult supervision. Parents have also been advised to keep devices in shared areas of the home rather than allowing unsupervised use.
The PTA also asked parents to improve their own understanding of digital platforms so they can guide children about safe and responsible use of social media and other online services.
Parents have been encouraged to use parental control software, content filters and other safety features to block inappropriate material, harmful websites and potentially dangerous online content. The authority recommended using age-appropriate settings while allowing children to access useful educational and recreational content online.
The guidance comes as the debate over children’s access to social media and online safety continues in Pakistan.
In its response submitted to the Islamabad High Court on October 1, the PTA said it does not have the legal authority under its existing jurisdiction to impose mandatory age verification or restrict social media access for children below 16 years of age.
The authority had issued similar guidance on July 30, asking parents to monitor their children’s social media use and make greater use of parental controls and age-appropriate content filters.
The PTA has maintained that parental supervision, digital awareness and appropriate safety tools are important to protect children from online risks while allowing them to benefit from the internet.
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