By Staff Reporter
DUBAI-The UAE Cabinet has approved a landmark resolution that will prohibit children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, while teenagers aged 15 to 16 will be allowed limited and closely regulated access.
The move is part of the country’s broader efforts to enhance child digital safety and protect young users from the harmful effects associated with excessive social media use.
According to a 2024 survey, children in the UAE spend an average of three hours per day on social media platforms. Experts have linked prolonged usage to increased anxiety, attention difficulties, academic challenges, and, in some cases, speech development delays.
New Rules for Young Users
Under the new regulations:
- Children below 15 years of age will not be permitted to create personal social media accounts or access the full features of social media platforms.
- Teenagers aged 15 and 16 will be allowed access under enhanced safety measures designed specifically for their age group.
These protections will include:
- Age-appropriate content filtering and restrictions.
- Disabling features considered high-risk for minors.
- Controls on screen time and platform usage.
- Mandatory parental monitoring and control tools.
AI-Powered Age Verification Required
The Cabinet has also directed social media companies to abandon self-declared age verification systems.
Instead, platforms will be required to adopt advanced age-verification technologies, including artificial intelligence-supported biometric tools and other methods approved by the Child Digital Safety Council. These systems are intended to accurately determine a user’s age while maintaining strict privacy and data protection standards.
Authorities said the new measures will ensure minimal data collection, secure processing of personal information, and the deletion of data once verification is complete.
Parents Cannot Override Restrictions
The resolution makes it clear that parental consent will not exempt children under 15 from the ban.
For users aged 15 and 16, parents will be given tools to manage account settings and monitor activity. However, they will not be allowed to remove or bypass the safety restrictions established by the government.
Platforms Given One Year to Comply
Social media companies operating in the UAE will have up to 12 months to gradually implement the new requirements in coordination with relevant authorities.
The UAE joins several countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Malaysia, that have introduced stricter regulations aimed at protecting children and teenagers online.
The new framework is expected to reshape how young people in the UAE engage with social media, placing child safety and digital wellbeing at the center of the country’s online landscape.
