The digital world is not going away, nor should it. The objective must be to make it safer and more beneficial. Protecting children requires effective laws, responsible technology companies, informed parents, vigilant institutions and educated children. A coordinated national and international effort can ensure that technology becomes a tool for empowerment rather than a source of harm. The future of Pakistan’s children depends on getting this balance right. The rapid expansion of the internet has transformed the way children learn, communicate and understand the world. Digital technology has opened extraordinary opportunities for education and creativity, but it has also created serious risks that cannot be ignored. The call by Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja for global laws to protect children from the harmful effects of the internet therefore deserves serious attention.
Children cannot simply be kept away from technology. In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, digital communication and online education, restricting young people’s access to technology altogether would leave them unprepared for the future. The real challenge is to ensure that children can benefit from digital platforms without becoming victims of their harmful aspects.
One of the most important issues is the amount of time children spend online. Excessive screen time can affect education, social development and family relationships. Parents and educational institutions must therefore establish reasonable limits, particularly for younger children. Digital devices should support learning and creativity rather than replace physical activity, social interaction and moral development.
At the same time, responsibility cannot rest entirely with parents. Governments, technology companies and social media platforms must also play their part. Children can easily access material that is inappropriate for their age, while their personal information and photographs can be misused. Stronger age-verification systems, parental controls and artificial intelligence-based monitoring can help reduce these dangers. Technology companies that profit from digital platforms must accept greater responsibility for protecting their youngest users.
Pakistan has already taken some encouraging steps in this direction. Initiatives such as the “Safe Raho” programme, digital safety training in schools and the “Junior Cyber Heroes” campaign demonstrate that awareness is an essential part of the solution. Proposed legislation concerning personal data protection and national cyber security also provides an opportunity to establish stronger safeguards for children’s privacy and digital consent.
The issue is particularly important for Pakistan because millions of children remain out of school. Internet access, if properly managed, can help bridge educational gaps and provide children with access to modern knowledge, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Completely shutting children out of digital platforms would therefore be neither practical nor desirable.
What is required is balance. Children should be taught how to use technology intelligently, safely and responsibly. Parents must remain engaged in their children’s digital lives instead of leaving supervision entirely to technology. Schools should strengthen civic, ethical and moral education alongside digital skills. Children need to understand that freedom on the internet also carries responsibility.
Pakistan also needs to think beyond immediate cyber threats. If its young generation is to compete internationally, children must become creators rather than merely consumers of technology. They should be encouraged to develop skills in artificial intelligence, mathematics, programming and innovation while remaining connected to their language, culture and social values.