The United Arab Emirates(UAE) has announced a sweeping ban on social media use by children under the age of 15, becoming the first Arab country to introduce such restrictions as governments around the world move to tighten regulations aimed at protecting young users online.
Under a new cabinet resolution announced on Thursday, social media platforms operating in the UAE will be required to monitor, identify and disable accounts belonging to users below the age threshold or risk sanctions that could include partial or full blocking of their services.
According to the state-run Emirates News Agency, the regulation establishes 15 years as the minimum legal age for creating, operating or using personal social media accounts.
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Authorities have granted technology companies a 12-month transition period to implement age-verification systems and compliance mechanisms before enforcement begins.
The move places the UAE among a growing list of countries introducing stricter digital safeguards for minors. Australia, Britain, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey and several European nations have all introduced measures designed to limit children’s exposure to social media platforms.
Officials say the restrictions are intended to address concerns about cyberbullying, harmful content, online predators, excessive screen time, mental health challenges and addictive digital behaviour among young users.
Children under 15 will be barred from accessing key social networking functions such as posting content, commenting, sharing material, joining public groups and participating in large-scale online communities.
The new framework also introduces special safeguards for teenagers aged between 15 and 16. While they will still be allowed to maintain social media accounts, their access will be subject to enhanced protections, including content filtering measures, privacy controls and limits on usage time.
The UAE government said regulatory bodies responsible for telecommunications and media oversight would have broad powers to enforce compliance.
Those powers include issuing warnings, imposing administrative penalties and, in serious cases, ordering partial or complete restrictions on platforms that fail to comply with the new rules.
The resolution places responsibility not only on technology companies but also on parents and guardians. Authorities said caregivers are expected to ensure children do not bypass age-verification requirements or create unauthorised accounts.
Supporters of age-based restrictions argue that stronger protections are necessary as children spend increasing amounts of time online.
Critics, however, question the effectiveness of such bans, arguing that enforcement remains technically challenging and could drive younger users toward less-regulated digital spaces.
The UAE’s decision marks a significant shift in digital regulation across the Middle East and is expected to influence future discussions on online child protection in the region.
