The United Arab Emirates on Thursday approved a resolution setting the minimum age for social media use at 15, the government's media office said, making it the first Arab country to introduce such a measure.
The resolution prohibits children under 15 from creating or using personal social media accounts © Mena Today
The United Arab Emirates has set a minimum age of 15 for social media use, becoming the first Arab country to introduce such a restriction as governments worldwide seek to address growing concerns over the impact of online platforms on children.
Under a resolution approved on Thursday, children under 15 will be prohibited from creating, using or operating personal social media accounts. The ban means they will not be able to post content, comment, share or join public groups, the government's media office said.
Teenagers aged 15 and 16 will be allowed to use social media platforms subject to enhanced safeguards, including age-appropriate content controls, restrictions on interaction with unknown users, screen-time management tools and parental supervision features.
The rules apply to all social media platforms operating in the UAE and require companies to implement robust age-verification measures, including digital identity checks and artificial intelligence-supported technologies. Self-declaration of age will not be accepted as a valid form of verification.
Platforms must also disable accounts created by children under 15, prevent users from circumventing age-verification systems and refrain from using children's personal data for targeted advertising or behavioural profiling.
The government said the measures were designed to address concerns over children's exposure to inappropriate content, unsafe online interactions, excessive social media use and the collection of personal data.
Social media companies will have up to 12 months to comply with the new regulations.
The UAE said the framework aligns with international efforts to strengthen online child protection while balancing digital access with safety.
Several countries, including Australia and others in Europe, have moved to tighten restrictions on children's use of social media amid mounting concerns about its effects on mental health and online safety.
Reporting by Jana Choukeir
The United Arab Emirates' decision to suspend all financial and economic transactions with Iran until further notice, citing a military escalation by Tehran with a missile threat, has refocused the spotlight on fraught ties between the major Gulf Arab oil producer and Iran.
The UAE's defense ministry said on Tuesday that it detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran against the Gulf country.
President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran would not make the deal he thinks is needed to end a war with the U.S. and should surrender as talks between the countries remained stalled.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.