KEY POINTS
- PTA and Meta introduce Instagram’s “Teen Accounts” to strengthen digital safety
- Feature automatically places users under 16 into protected mode
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in collaboration with Meta, has launched Instagram’s new “Teen Accounts” feature to enhance online safety for young users across Pakistan.
Officials said the feature automatically categorises users under 16 years old into Teen Accounts, designed to restrict unwanted contact, limit exposure to sensitive content, and encourage safer digital engagement.
The initiative was announced during a ceremony in Islamabad on Wednesday, attended by representatives from Meta, UNICEF, the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC), and other child protection stakeholders.
According to a PTA press release, the program included live demonstrations and awareness sessions on complaint mechanisms, privacy controls, and youth digital wellbeing.
Chairman PTA, Major General (R) Hafeez ur Rehman, HI (M) SI, said during the launch that the new feature “marks a major step toward protecting Pakistan’s youth in the digital sphere.”
He added that PTA “remains committed to fostering a safer and more responsible online environment for all users.”
Dr Priyanka Bhalla, Meta’s Head of Safety Policy for South Asia, praised the collaboration, noting that the company’s global safety framework “continues to empower millions of teenagers worldwide — including in Pakistan — to explore the internet safely and responsibly.”
According to Meta, Teen Accounts offer built-in privacy settings that make minors’ profiles less visible to unknown users and provide filters for sensitive content.
The company stated that the feature also reinforces its global focus on digital wellbeing and safety partnerships with local regulators.
