UAE Enforces Strict Social Media Age Restrictions to Protect Children

DUBAI, June 18 – The United Arab Emirates has implemented a nationwide policy prohibiting social media access for users under 15, marking a pioneering move among Arab nations. The legislation, approved this week, aims to mitigate risks associated with children’s online exposure while positioning the UAE at the forefront of digital child protection efforts.

Individuals below 15 will be barred from creating or maintaining social media profiles, effectively preventing activities such as posting content, commenting, sharing, or joining public groups. Officials emphasized that enforcement will depend on rigorous age-verification systems, including biometric checks and artificial intelligence tools, eliminating self-declaration as an option.

Adolescents aged 15–16 may access platforms but will face enhanced safeguards: parental controls, restricted interactions with unverified users, screen-time limits, and mandatory age-sensitive content filters. Social media companies operating in the UAE must retrofit existing accounts and prevent circumvention of these measures over the next 12 months.

Regulations mandate swift account deactivation for underage users and prohibit targeted advertising or behavioral profiling based on children’s data. Violations could trigger penalties, though specifics remain undetailed. The UAE government framed the policy as a response to global concerns about mental health impacts and predatory online interactions.

Parallel efforts are underway in Australia, Europe, and North America, where lawmakers debate similar restrictions amid rising scrutiny of platforms’ role in youth mental health crises. The UAE’s approach underscores a pragmatic balance between fostering digital literacy and safeguarding developmental well-being.

(Compiled by Reuters reporting team)

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