The United Arab Emirates has announced a nationwide ban on social media use for children under the age of 15, joining a growing list of countries taking steps to protect minors from the risks associated with online platforms.
The decision was unveiled on Thursday through a cabinet resolution, which sets 15 as the minimum age for social media use across the country. Social media companies have been given a 12-month transition period to comply with the new regulations.
According to the official WAM news agency, children below the age of 15 will be prohibited from creating, using, or operating personal accounts on social media platforms.
The new rules also restrict underage users from accessing key features of social media platforms, including publishing content, commenting, sharing posts, participating in public groups, joining open channels, and engaging in large-scale interactive online spaces.
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Authorities said social media platforms will be required to actively monitor and disable accounts belonging to users under the age limit. Companies that fail to comply could face enforcement measures, including warnings, administrative penalties, or partial and full blocking of their platforms within the UAE.
The move follows similar actions by other countries seeking to curb children’s exposure to social media. Australia became the first country to introduce a social media ban for users under 16 in December, while Britain also announced similar restrictions this week. Canada is among other nations considering or implementing measures aimed at strengthening online protections for young people.
The UAE said its media and telecommunications regulatory bodies have been granted the authority to take all necessary actions against platforms that fail to adhere to the new requirements, underscoring the government’s commitment to safeguarding children in the digital space.