The United Arab Emirates has set a precedent in the Arab world by implementing new regulations that restrict children under 15 from having personal social media accounts. This landmark decision means that individuals below this age will not be able to engage in key social media activities such as posting, commenting, sharing, or participating in public groups and channels.
Social media platforms operating within the UAE have been given a year to adapt to these changes. They will be required to establish robust age-verification mechanisms, moving beyond the current reliance on users’ self-reported ages. This initiative is part of the UAE’s broader efforts to enhance child protection in the digital sphere and encourage the responsible use of technology.
For those aged 15 and 16, social media access remains available but comes with additional safeguards. These include content filters appropriate for their age, restrictions on interactions with strangers, parental control options, and limits on screen time. These measures aim to provide a safer online experience for teenagers while still allowing them some degree of social media engagement.
The government has emphasized that this policy is designed to bolster child safety in the digital environment. Social media companies will also be tasked with identifying and deactivating accounts that violate the age restriction by belonging to users under 15. By enforcing these rules, the UAE hopes to create a more controlled and secure online space for its younger population.
