Key facts
- The UAE has set a minimum age of 15 for social media use.
- Children under 15 are prohibited from creating, using, or operating personal social media accounts.
- Teenagers aged 15 and 16 will have access subject to enhanced safeguards like content controls and parental supervision.
- Platforms must implement robust age-verification measures, including digital identity checks and AI-supported technologies.
- Social media companies have 12 months to comply with the new regulations.
The United Arab Emirates has established a minimum age of 15 for social media use, becoming the first Arab country to introduce such a restriction. The resolution, approved on Thursday, prohibits children under 15 from creating, using, or operating personal social media accounts, restricting their ability to post, comment, share, or join public groups. Teenagers aged 15 and 16 will be permitted to use platforms under enhanced safeguards, including age-appropriate content controls, interaction restrictions with unknown users, screen-time management, and parental supervision features. The rules apply to all social media platforms operating in the UAE and mandate robust age-verification measures, such as digital identity checks and AI-supported technologies, with self-declaration not accepted. Platforms must disable accounts of children under 15, prevent system circumvention, and refrain from using children's personal data for targeted advertising or behavioral profiling. These measures aim to address concerns over exposure to inappropriate content, unsafe online interactions, excessive use, and personal data collection. Social media companies have up to 12 months to comply. The UAE stated the framework aligns with international efforts to strengthen online child protection while balancing digital access with safety.