The United Arab Emirates has implemented a groundbreaking law prohibiting children under the age of 15 from creating or using personal social media accounts, even with parental consent. This move makes the UAE the first Arab nation to impose such a restriction, as governments worldwide intensify efforts to shield minors from online risks.
Details of the New Regulation
Approved by the UAE cabinet on Thursday, the regulation sets the minimum age for social media use at 15 years. According to the official WAM news agency, children below this age are barred from creating, using, or operating personal accounts on social media platforms. Additionally, they cannot access full platform features such as social interaction, publishing, commenting, sharing, joining public groups, open channels, or any large-scale interactive spaces.
Parental Consent Not Sufficient
Unlike some international frameworks that allow younger users to join platforms with parental permission, the UAE's rules explicitly prohibit parental consent from exempting children under 15 from the restrictions. The responsibility falls on social media platforms to enforce age limits and create safer online environments for children and teenagers.
Additional Safeguards for Older Teens
Users aged 15 and 16 are still permitted to access social media, but with enhanced protections. These include age-appropriate content settings, restrictions on interactions with unknown users, screen-time management tools, and parental supervision features. The measures aim to balance access with safety for adolescents.
The decision reflects growing global concern over harmful content, unsafe interactions, excessive screen time, and data collection affecting young users. As the first Arab country to adopt such a comprehensive ban, the UAE sets a precedent for regional policies on child online safety.
