The United Arab Emirates has followed in the footsteps of Australia, the UK, and Denmark by enforcing strict policies and banning children from using social media, becoming the first Arab country to introduce such restrictions. This move comes as governments worldwide tighten measures to protect children online and address growing concerns about digital safety and wellbeing.
The UAE Cabinet has approved a resolution establishing 15 as the minimum age for children to create and operate personal social media accounts.
Announcing the move, the government’s media office stated that the ban means children below the age threshold “will not be able to post content, comment, share or join public groups.”
Social media platforms have been given a 12-month transition period to disable underage accounts or risk being blocked by telecom and media regulators. Additionally, these platforms are now legally prohibited from tracking, processing, or utilizing the personal data of children for commercial purposes, behavioral profiling, or targeted advertising.
This move by the UAE directly reflects growing societal and global concerns over excessive screen time, cyberbullying, and exposure to inappropriate content. Caregivers are also expected to play an active role in supervising children’s digital activities and encouraging outdoor or extracurricular alternatives to help counterbalance time spent on devices.
