The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has urged parents to play a more active role in protecting children online by promoting responsible internet use and strengthening digital safety at home.
In a public advisory, the telecom regulator encouraged families to use parental controls and age-appropriate content filters on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to help ensure children have a safer online experience and reduce their exposure to harmful content.
PTA also advised parents to regularly discuss cyberbullying, online harassment, and other digital risks with their children so they can recognise potential threats and know how to report inappropriate behaviour through the proper channels.
The authority further recommended monitoring children’s social media activity to identify unsafe interactions or inappropriate content, while educating them about the dangers of sharing personal information, including their location, photos, and other sensitive details, online.
As part of its digital safety initiative, PTA also urged families to avoid storing or sharing sensitive information, such as financial and health-related data, on online platforms or shared devices.
Earlier, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issued a set of security recommendations to help WhatsApp users protect their accounts from hacking and cyber threats.
The authority advised users to enable WhatsApp’s Security Notifications feature. To activate it, users should go to Settings > Account > Security Notifications and turn on the “Show Security Notifications” option. This feature alerts users whenever there is a security-related change to their account.
PTA also recommended linking a secure and active email address to WhatsApp. According to the authority, doing so will make it easier to recover an account in case it is hacked or if users face any account-related emergencies.
The authority further urged users to enable Two-Step Verification, describing it as an essential security feature that helps prevent hackers and cybercriminals from gaining unauthorised access to WhatsApp accounts.
PTA warned users against clicking on suspicious links, responding to unknown messages, or sharing verification codes with anyone. It said even a small lapse in caution could result in cyber fraud, loss of personal data, or financial damage.
The authority emphasised that by taking timely security measures, users can better protect not only their WhatsApp accounts but also their personal information, contacts, and overall digital security.
Also read: PTA warns citizens against fake calls and SMS scams
