The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Reuters reported that the United Arab Emirates has introduced a minimum age of 15 for social media use, becoming the first Arab country to impose such a restriction amid growing global concerns over the impact of online platforms on children.
Under a resolution approved on Thursday, children under 15
will be banned from creating, using or managing personal social media accounts.
This includes restrictions on posting content, commenting, sharing and joining
public groups, according to the government’s media office.
Teenagers aged 15 and 16 will be allowed to use social media
platforms under stricter safeguards, including age-appropriate content
controls, limits on interactions with unknown users, screen-time management
tools and parental supervision features.
The new rules apply to all social media platforms operating
in the UAE and require companies to implement strong age-verification systems,
including digital identity checks and artificial intelligence-supported
technologies. Self-declared age information will not be accepted as valid
verification.
Platforms will also be required to deactivate accounts
belonging to children under 15, prevent users from bypassing verification
systems and avoid using children’s personal data for targeted advertising or
behavioral profiling.
Authorities said the measures aim to address concerns about
children’s exposure to harmful content, unsafe online interactions, excessive
usage and data privacy risks.
Social media companies have been given up to 12 months to
comply with the new regulations.
The UAE said the framework aligns with international efforts
to strengthen child protection online while balancing digital access and
safety, as countries such as Australia and several European nations move to
tighten restrictions on children’s social media use.
