Pakistan, Feb. 11 -- The Islamabad High Court has asked the federal government to detail steps protecting children under 16 from social media harms. The court emphasized the rising mental health and privacy risks minors face online, urging immediate regulatory action. The decision affects parents, policymakers, and all social media users under the legal age limit.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued a written order based on a petition filed by a father concerned about his child's social media use. The court requested a response by March 3, including measures to prevent online harms and progress on creating a dedicated regulatory authority. The High Court stressed that unregulated access poses serious physical, psychological, and privacy-...