UAE Bans Children Under 15 from Using Social Media

• The United Arab Emirates has announced a nationwide ban on social media use for children under 15, requiring platforms to disable underage accounts or face penalties.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced a new law prohibiting children under the age of 15 from creating or using social media accounts, becoming the first Arab nation to implement such a restriction.

Under the new policy, social media platforms will be required to monitor and deactivate accounts belonging to users below the age threshold or risk sanctions, including partial or full blocking of their services. Companies have been given a 12-month transition period to comply with the regulation.

According to the UAE government, the move is aimed at strengthening child protection online and aligns with growing global efforts to address concerns surrounding social media use among young people.

The new rules also restrict children under 15 from accessing major social media features such as posting content, commenting, sharing, joining public groups, and participating in large-scale online interactions.

Teenagers aged 15 and 16 will still be allowed to use social media but under enhanced safety measures, including content restrictions and limits on usage time.

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Authorities said the decision was influenced by concerns over cyberbullying, mental health challenges, online predators, addictive behaviour, and the impact of excessive screen time on children’s wellbeing.

The policy places responsibility not only on social media companies but also on parents and caregivers, who are expected to prevent underage children from bypassing age-verification systems.

The UAE joins countries such as Australia, Britain, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Turkey in tightening regulations around children’s access to social media platforms.