On Thursday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) became the first Arab nation to implement a ban on social media for younger users, setting the minimum age at 15. This new rule also mandates that providers verify the ages of their users.
The recent ministerial decision in the UAE isn’t as stringent as Australia’s pioneering ban on social media for those under 16. The emirate has given platforms a relatively lenient 12 months to identify and remove accounts belonging to users below this age threshold.
Teens aged 15 and 16 will still have access to social media, but with certain limitations. For example, they’ll be restricted from interacting with unknown users and from viewing age-inappropriate content. Social media platforms will need to track the screen time of users in this age group and provide parental control options.
Like similar initiatives elsewhere, the UAE’s regulations place considerable, unfinanced demands on social media companies, compelling them to quickly establish age and identity verification mechanisms.
The resolution specifies that users need to validate their age, and parents cannot bypass these age restrictions.
Additionally, social media companies are urged not to utilize children’s personal data for profiling or targeted ads. Failure to meet these standards could lead to a ban for the offending platform in the UAE, with penalties that are notably stricter than those found in many other countries with analogous rules.
State media in the UAE has indicated that the ban aligns with “key global trends in digital child protection,” which emphasize combining digital safety, family empowerment, platform accountability, and enforceable legal measures.
This regulation pertains to all social media platforms that allow users to create accounts, engage in social interactions, and share content, whether for free or via paid services. It applies to any platform available or directed toward users in the UAE, as noted by Gulf News.
According to Khaleej Times, many parents in the UAE are generally supportive of the ban, expressing concerns about social media addiction, deteriorating academic performance, and potential online dangers.
A mother of a 15-year-old shared, “Social media is like an engine, and young people shouldn’t be operating it without some training and basic education. I think this is a first step toward making social media safer for everyone.”
