The United Arab Emirates has become the first Arab nation to ban children under the age of 15 from creating personal social media accounts, introducing one of the region’s toughest digital safety regulations aimed at protecting minors online.
The landmark measure, approved by the UAE Cabinet on Thursday, prohibits children below the age of 15 from opening, using or operating personal accounts on social media platforms, regardless of whether they have parental consent.
The decision places the Gulf nation at the forefront of a growing international effort to shield young users from online risks, including exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, predatory interactions, excessive screen time and the misuse of personal data.
According to the new regulations, children under the age threshold will not only be barred from creating accounts but will also be restricted from accessing key social media functions such as posting content, commenting, sharing materials, engaging in social interactions and joining public groups or open channels.
Unlike some international frameworks that allow younger users to access social media platforms with parental approval, the UAE’s new rules make no exceptions.
Responsibility for enforcing the restrictions will rest primarily on social media companies, which are expected to implement robust age-verification systems and compliance measures.
“The resolution sets the minimum age for social media use at 15 years,” the state-run WAM news agency reported, citing the Cabinet resolution. “Children below this age are prohibited from creating, using, or operating personal accounts on social media platforms.”
The regulations also introduce enhanced protections for teenagers aged 15 and 16, who will still be permitted to use social media services. Platforms will be required to provide age-appropriate content filters, stronger privacy controls, restrictions on contact from unknown users, screen-time management tools and parental oversight features.
The UAE’s move aligns with a broader global trend toward tighter regulation of children’s access to social media.
Countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom have recently pursued similar measures amid growing concerns about the impact of digital platforms on young people’s mental health, safety and wellbeing.
Observers say the policy could serve as a model for other countries in the Middle East and beyond as governments increasingly seek to balance technological innovation with the protection of children in the digital age.
