ISLAMABAD, Oct 28 (APP):Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman retired Lt Gen Hafeez Ur Rehman on Wednesday said regulation alone was insufficient to address the harmful effects of social media, stressing that parents, teachers and society must collectively take responsibility for protecting children online.
Addressing the concluding session of the Digital Tahaffuz Summit, he said ensuring a safe and secure digital environment in Pakistan was the PTA’s top priority.
Highlighting the challenges faced by the regulator, the PTA chairman said the authority received between 1,000 and 1,500 complaints daily and processed them for necessary action.
He said the PTA dealt with online content on the basis of complaints, as it lacked an automated system, a large team and artificial intelligence-based monitoring tools to proactively review social media content.
He added that the absence of a physical presence of international technology companies in Pakistan made the full enforcement of local laws challenging, a problem also faced by other countries in the region.
Emphasising the role of parents, he said children today asked questions and sought logical explanations. He urged parents to develop friendly relationships with their children rather than resorting to scolding and reprimands.
He also encouraged parents to involve their children in outdoor sports and activities and maintain open communication with them.
The PTA chairman called for incorporating formal education on the positive and negative aspects of social media into school curricula to help children understand the benefits and risks of digital platforms.
Appreciating the organisation of the summit, he said similar seminars should be held regularly in different cities across the country to promote digital awareness and help ensure a safer digital future for Pakistan.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
