The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced new restrictions on children’s use of social media, becoming the first Arab country to introduce a nationwide minimum age requirement for social media platforms.
Under a resolution approved on June 18, children under the age of 15 will be prohibited from creating, using or operating personal social media accounts. The new rules mean that users below the age threshold will not be allowed to post content, leave comments, share material or participate in public groups on social media platforms.
The regulations apply to all social media platforms operating in the UAE, including services that allow users to create accounts, interact with others, share content or receive algorithm-driven recommendations. Major platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X are expected to fall under the new framework.
Authorities said social media companies will be required to implement robust age-verification systems to ensure compliance. These may include digital identity verification, government-issued identification checks and artificial intelligence-supported technologies. The government stated that simply declaring one’s age will no longer be accepted as a valid method of verification.
While children under 15 will be barred from social media, teenagers aged 15 and 16 will still be permitted to use such platforms under enhanced safety protections. These safeguards include age-appropriate content controls, restrictions on communication with unknown users, screen-time management tools and parental supervision features.
The regulations also require companies to disable accounts operated by children under 15, prevent attempts to bypass age-verification systems and stop the use of children’s personal data for targeted advertising or behavioural profiling. Platforms will be given up to 12 months to comply with the new rules and may face penalties, including fines or service restrictions, if they fail to meet the requirements.
UAE authorities said the measures were introduced in response to growing concerns over children’s exposure to harmful content, unsafe online interactions, excessive social media use and the collection of personal data. The government added that the framework seeks to balance children’s access to digital services with stronger online safety protections.
The UAE joins a growing list of countries introducing restrictions on children’s use of social media. Australia became the first country to approve a nationwide ban on social media accounts for children under 16, while Britain has announced plans to prohibit under-16s from accessing major social media platforms beginning in 2027. The British proposal would apply to services including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube and X, alongside strict age-verification requirements and additional safeguards for young users.
Malaysia has also introduced new regulations requiring age verification on major social media platforms and restricting account creation by children under the age of 16. Similar measures have been adopted or proposed in Indonesia, Turkey and several European countries, including France, Greece, Spain and Denmark, as governments seek to address concerns about children’s mental health, online safety and digital well-being.
The Maldives is also considering introducing similar restrictions. President Mohamed Muizzu recently announced that his administration intends to draft laws and regulations aimed at restricting social media access for children under the age of 16. He said the government would study international models, particularly Australia’s approach, and work with social media companies to develop age-based protections for young users in the country.
As more governments move to regulate children’s access to social media, the debate continues between those who see age restrictions as a necessary safeguard and those who argue that online platforms should instead be redesigned to provide safer environments for young users.
