DUBAI, June 18 (Parliament Politics Magazine) – United Arab Emirates, has officially established a minimum age of 15 for social media use, becoming the first Arab country to introduce such a restriction. This legislative move arrives as governments globally attempt to address mounting concerns regarding the influence of online platforms on children.
The resolution, approved on Thursday, prohibits children under 15 from creating, using, or operating personal social media accounts. Under these new rules, younger children will be unable to post content, comment, share, or join public groups.
Teenagers aged 15 and 16 will still be permitted to use social media platforms, though their access is now subject to enhanced safeguards. These requirements include the implementation of age-appropriate content controls, restrictions on interacting with unknown users, tools for managing screen time, and features for parental supervision.
Platforms operating in the country are now required to implement robust age-verification measures. The government explicitly stated that self-declaration of age will no longer be accepted as a valid form of verification. Companies must instead utilize digital identity checks and artificial intelligence-supported technologies to ensure compliance.
“The UAE said the framework aligns with international efforts to strengthen online child protection while balancing digital access with safety,” according to the government’s media office.
Social media companies have been granted a 12-month grace period to comply with the new regulations. Beyond age verification, platforms are mandated to disable accounts created by children under 15 and must prevent users from circumventing these systems. Additionally, companies are prohibited from using the personal data of children for behavioral profiling or targeted advertising.
These measures function in tandem with the country’s existing Child Digital Safety (CDS) Law. This legal framework shifts the responsibility of online supervision from a mere parental recommendation to a strict legal obligation. Failure to manage a child’s digital safety can result in substantial fines of up to AED 1 million for parents.
The initiative follows similar efforts by other nations, including Australia and various European countries, which have tightened restrictions on youth social media access to mitigate risks related to mental health and inappropriate content exposure.
