The United Arab Emirates has introduced a landmark digital regulation setting the minimum age for social media use at 15, making it one of the strictest online child protection measures in the region. Under the new Cabinet resolution, social media platforms have been given a 12-month deadline to identify and remove accounts belonging to users under 15 or face penalties, including potential restrictions or bans for non-compliance.
The law aims to protect children from harmful online exposure, including inappropriate content, unsafe interactions, excessive screen time, and the misuse of personal data. While teenagers aged 15 and 16 will still be allowed to access social media platforms, their usage will be tightly controlled with enhanced safeguards such as content filtering, screen-time management tools, and restrictions on interacting with unknown users or participating in large public online communities.
This move places the UAE alongside a growing list of countries tightening digital regulations for minors, reflecting global concerns about mental health, cyberbullying, and the long-term effects of early social media exposure. However, critics argue that enforcement may be challenging and that such bans could limit children’s ability to build social connections in the digital age.
(Source: DW News)
