social media accounts
UAE Announces Social Media Ban for Children Under 15
The United Arab Emirates has set a minimum age of 15 for social media use, becoming the first Arab country to introduce such a restriction as governments worldwide seek to address growing concerns over the impact of online platforms on children. The Cabinet resolution, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, was announced on Thursday and forms part of a broader legislative framework aimed at protecting children in the digital environment. The resolution reflects the UAE’s commitment to establishing an advanced model for child protection in the digital space, reinforcing the national digital safety framework in line with the rapid evolution of technology use, and striking a balance between enabling responsible use of modern technologies and ensuring the highest standards of child protection.
Under the resolution, children under 15 are prohibited from creating, using, or operating personal social media accounts. The ban means they will not be able to post content, comment, share, or join public groups, open channels, or any large-scale interactive spaces. Crucially, parental consent does not constitute a valid exemption from the prohibition. Platforms are required to implement all necessary technical and administrative measures to enforce this ban, including monitoring personal accounts created by underage children and taking immediate action to suspend or disable such accounts. The resolution applies to all social media platforms operating in the UAE, whether free or paid, that enable users to create accounts or personal profiles, engage in social interaction, publish or share content, or that rely on algorithmic systems to display, rank or recommend content.
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Teenagers aged 15 and 16 will be allowed to use social media platforms, subject to enhanced protective measures applied to their accounts. These measures include age-appropriate content classification and restriction, disabling high-risk features such as interaction with unknown users, regulation of usage time and duration, and the provision of parental control tools, allowing caregivers to configure account settings provided such configuration does not contravene prescribed prohibitions. The enhanced safeguards are designed to create a safer online environment for older teenagers while still allowing them to benefit from social media’s educational and social opportunities.
The rules apply to all social media platforms operating in the UAE and require companies to implement robust age-verification measures. Self-declaration of age will not be accepted as a valid form of verification. Platforms must adopt digital identity checks and artificial intelligence-supported technologies such as biometric tools to verify user ages, or any other mechanisms approved by the Child Digital Safety Council. They are also required to disable accounts created by children under 15, prevent users from circumventing age-verification systems, refrain from using children’s personal data for targeted advertising or behavioural profiling, and ensure data is not retained beyond the period strictly necessary. These provisions place significant compliance burdens on social media companies operating in the UAE market.
The social media age restriction is part of a wider Federal Decree-Law on Child Digital Safety (No. 26/2025) , which came into force on January 1, 2026. The comprehensive legislation establishes a new era of accountability for digital platforms operating in the UAE. The decree-law establishes the Child Digital Safety Council, chaired by the Minister of Family, tasked with proposing policies, legislation, and national awareness initiatives. It also establishes a platform classification system to assess risk and impact on children, and prohibits platforms from collecting, processing, or sharing personal data of children under 13 unless strict conditions are met. The law further mandates that platforms implement blocking and filtering tools, age-rating systems, and controls on targeted advertising, while also providing user-friendly reporting mechanisms for harmful content.
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Social media companies will have up to 12 months to comply with the new regulations. The UAE’s media and telecommunications regulatory bodies have authority to take all necessary measures against platforms in the event of non-compliance. Penalties for non-compliance may include warnings, partial or full blocking of platforms, or administrative penalties. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) will oversee compliance and enforcement, supported by the Child Digital Safety Council. The phased compliance timeline gives companies time to adjust their systems and procedures to meet the new requirements.
The new law also imposes obligations on parents and caregivers, requiring them to monitor their children’s digital activities, use parental control tools, refrain from creating accounts for children on platforms that are not age-appropriate, refrain from circumventing age verification mechanisms, promote children’s awareness of digital risks and safe usage practices, and report harmful content or child sexual abuse material to the competent authorities. These provisions emphasize the shared responsibility between platforms, parents, and regulators in ensuring child safety online.
The UAE joins a growing list of countries implementing age-based restrictions on social media. Australia introduced a world-first social media ban for under-16s in December 2025, while the United Kingdom announced a similar ban this week. Greece, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey have also introduced or are considering measures to regulate children’s access to social media platforms. The UAE government said the measures were designed to address concerns over children’s exposure to inappropriate content, unsafe online interactions, excessive social media use, and the collection of personal data. As governments worldwide grapple with the challenges of protecting children in the digital age, the UAE’s move represents a significant step in establishing comprehensive legal frameworks for child digital safety.
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