The United Arab Emirates has become the first Arab nation to enforce new regulations barring children under 15 years from having personal social media accounts. This landmark decision restricts young users from engaging with key social media functions such as posting, commenting, sharing, and joining public groups or channels. The move reflects a growing global concern about the impact of social media on younger users.
According to the new Cabinet resolution, social media platforms operating within the UAE’s jurisdiction have a 12-month timeframe to adapt to these regulations. A critical component of compliance will be implementing robust age-verification systems, as platforms will no longer be able to depend solely on users’ self-reported ages. This mandate underscores the UAE’s commitment to ensuring that children are shielded from potentially harmful online interactions and content.
While the restrictions are firm for those under 15, teenagers aged 15 and 16 will still be allowed to use social media, albeit with stricter safety protocols. These enhanced measures include content restrictions tailored to age, controls over interactions with unknown users, tools for parental oversight, and limitations on usage duration. The UAE’s government emphasizes that these steps are designed to foster a safer digital environment for young users while encouraging responsible technology use.
The government articulated that the primary objective of these regulations is to bolster child protection in the digital sphere. As part of the enforcement, social media companies will need to identify and suspend accounts that are illegitimately created by users under the age of 15. This initiative highlights the UAE’s proactive approach in addressing digital safety and child welfare in an increasingly connected world.