The United Arab Emirates has announced sweeping new regulations that will prohibit children under the age of 15 from using social media platforms, marking one of the region’s most significant moves to strengthen online safety protections for minors.
Under a cabinet resolution announced on Thursday, social media companies operating in the country will be required to identify, monitor and deactivate accounts belonging to users younger than 15 years old. Platforms that fail to comply with the new requirements could face regulatory action, including financial penalties, restrictions on their services, or complete blocking within the UAE.
Authorities have granted technology companies a 12-month transition period to implement the necessary systems and safeguards before the regulations are fully enforced.
The new rules establish 15 as the minimum age for creating and operating personal social media accounts. Children below this age will be prohibited from opening accounts or independently accessing the full range of features offered by social media platforms.
According to the regulations, underage users will not be permitted to participate in activities such as posting content, commenting on posts, sharing material, joining public groups, interacting in large online communities, or engaging in other forms of unrestricted social networking. The measures are designed to limit children’s exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, online predators, misinformation, and excessive screen time.
The decision reflects growing concern among governments worldwide about the impact of social media on children’s mental health, emotional well-being, and overall development. Studies in recent years have highlighted links between excessive social media use and issues such as anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, reduced attention spans, and exposure to inappropriate content among young users.
The UAE joins a growing list of countries introducing stricter controls on children’s access to digital platforms. Australia drew international attention when it introduced one of the world’s toughest social media restrictions for minors, while Britain, Canada and several other jurisdictions are exploring or implementing measures aimed at increasing protections for young internet users.
Supporters of age-based restrictions argue that children often lack the maturity needed to navigate the risks associated with social media and that stronger safeguards are necessary to create safer online environments. Parents and child safety advocates have increasingly called on governments and technology companies to take greater responsibility for protecting minors from harmful digital experiences.
However, the introduction of age restrictions has also sparked debate among privacy experts, technology companies and civil liberties groups. Critics question how platforms will verify users’ ages without collecting additional personal information and warn that enforcement mechanisms must balance child protection with privacy rights.
The UAE’s media and telecommunications regulators have been granted broad authority to oversee compliance with the new rules. If platforms fail to meet their obligations, authorities may issue warnings, impose administrative penalties, restrict certain services, or block access to platforms entirely.
As the 12-month implementation period begins, social media companies will be expected to develop age-verification systems and strengthen monitoring processes to ensure compliance with the new framework. The regulations represent another step in the global effort to reshape how young people engage with digital platforms and online communities.
With governments around the world increasingly focused on online safety, the UAE’s decision is likely to add momentum to the international debate over the role of social media in children’s lives and the responsibilities of technology companies in protecting younger users.
