Meta Launches Digital Dialogues in Real Life at Pakistan’s Digital Tahafuzz Summit

The Islamabad summit brought together government officials, parents, educators and technology stakeholders to discuss child safety, privacy and responsible social media use.

Meta has launched Digital Dialogues in Real Life in Pakistan at its Digital Tahafuzz Summit, bringing together policymakers, educators, parents and civil society representatives to discuss online safety and the well-being of young people.

The summit was held in partnership with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Ministry of Human Rights, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) and Zindagi Trust.

Participants discussed ways to protect children online while allowing them to benefit from digital platforms. Key topics included privacy, age-appropriate content, safer platform design, online reporting systems and digital literacy.

Meta Introduces Interactive Online Safety Experience

At the summit, Meta introduced Digital Dialogues in Real Life, a free, browser-based experience designed to help teenagers, parents, educators and community groups discuss everyday online situations.

The initiative uses five illustrated cards covering Social Spaces, Feed Control, Beyond Likes, Kindness Online and Know Your Limits. Each card presents a familiar online scenario, encourages participants to discuss possible responses and highlights relevant safety tools.

The experience offers separate pathways for teenagers aged 13 to 17 and adults. According to Meta, it was developed using research and testing involving young people and educators.

The initiative also aims to help parents and teenagers understand the safety features available through Meta’s Teen Accounts.

Teen Accounts and Parental Controls

Meta said Teen Accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger include default protections intended to limit who can contact teenagers, the content they encounter and how they use the platforms.

The company also highlighted content settings guided by age-appropriate standards and parental feedback. According to Meta, teenagers under 16 need parental permission to make certain content settings less restrictive.

Yuen Ting Chay, Meta’s Director of Public Policy for South and Central Asia, said online safety requires cooperation between technology platforms, parents, educators, governments and civil society.

She said conversations between teenagers and trusted adults remain important alongside built-in platform protections. The new initiative aims to encourage more open discussions about young people’s online experiences.

Officials Call for Shared Responsibility

Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said Pakistan’s digital development must include measures to protect children online.

She stressed that online safety should not depend solely on parents navigating complex settings. Instead, she called for safer technology, digital literacy and cooperation among government institutions, technology companies, educators and families.

Federal Minister for Human Rights Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said online safety, privacy and human dignity must be protected alongside fundamental rights in the physical world.

He highlighted the need to protect women and children from online harm and equip young people with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions, respect others and respond to harassment and abuse.

Major General (Retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman, Chairman of the PTA, also emphasised the importance of digital awareness and parental guidance. He said the authority remained committed to supporting efforts to create a safer online environment for children in Pakistan.

NCRC and SMPRA Emphasise Child Protection

Ayesha Raza, Chairperson of the NCRC, called for a coordinated approach to child safety. She argued that restrictions alone could push children towards less regulated online spaces without preparing them to manage digital risks.

She stressed the importance of platform accountability, privacy-focused settings, effective complaint mechanisms, awareness campaigns and digital literacy.

Salman Zafar, Member of SMPRA, said children should not carry the responsibility for their own online safety. He called for safer platforms, privacy protection, responsive reporting systems and closer coordination among regulators, technology companies and parents.

Meanwhile, Zindagi Trust President Shahzad Roy said the organisation’s partnership with Meta aims to help parents and guardians better understand and supervise children’s social media experiences.

Meta Continues Digital Safety Collaboration in Pakistan

The Digital Tahafuzz Summit builds on Meta’s existing youth-safety initiatives in Pakistan. The company said it would continue working with policymakers and local partners to explore how similar protections could become more widely adopted across the industry.

The discussions highlighted the importance of combining technology-based safeguards with education, parental involvement and accessible reporting systems to help young people navigate online spaces more safely.