The United Arab Emirates has set a new precedent in the Arab world by instituting regulations that bar children under 15 from having personal social media accounts. This groundbreaking move aims to increase child safety online, marking the UAE as the first Arab nation to take such a step.
According to the recently announced Cabinet resolution, anyone under the age of 15 will not be permitted to engage with key features of social media platforms. This includes activities such as posting, commenting, sharing content, interacting with others, and joining public groups or channels. The restrictions are part of a broader initiative to enhance digital child protection and encourage the responsible use of technology.
Social media companies operating within the UAE’s jurisdiction have been allotted a 12-month period to ensure compliance with these new regulations. They are required to establish effective age-verification systems, moving beyond relying solely on users’ self-reported ages. The aim is to ensure that the platforms can adequately enforce the age restrictions and safeguard young users.
For older teenagers, specifically those aged 15 and 16, social media use will still be allowed, but with additional safety features. These include content restrictions suitable for their age, limits on interactions with unknown users, and tools for parental control, along with monitoring mechanisms to manage the time spent on these platforms.
The UAE government has stated that these measures are designed to bolster child protection in the digital landscape. As part of the enforcement, platforms will also be tasked with identifying and suspending accounts that have been illicitly created by children under 15, ensuring strict adherence to the new regulations.