The United Arab Emirates has set a minimum age of 15 for social media use, becoming the first Arab country to introduce such restrictions as governments around the world tighten measures aimed at protecting children online.

Under a resolution approved on Thursday, children under the age of 15 will be prohibited from creating, using or operating personal social media accounts in the UAE.

Announcing the move, the government’s media office said the ban means children below the age threshold “will not be able to post content, comment, share or join public groups.”

The new framework introduces stricter safeguards for older teenagers. Adolescents aged 15 and 16 will be permitted to use social media platforms, but only under enhanced protection measures designed to limit risks associated with online activity.

According to the government, these safeguards include age-appropriate content controls, restrictions on interactions with unknown users, screen-time management tools and parental supervision features.

The regulations apply to all social media platforms operating within the UAE and require technology companies to adopt robust age-verification systems.

The government said platforms must implement “digital identity checks and artificial intelligence-supported technologies,” stressing that “self-declaration of age will not be accepted as a valid form of verification.”

In addition, social media companies will be required to disable accounts created by children under the age of 15, prevent users from circumventing age-verification systems and avoid using children’s personal data for targeted advertising or behavioural profiling.

Explaining the rationale behind the policy, the government said the measures were intended to address growing concerns over children’s exposure “to inappropriate content, unsafe online interactions, excessive social media use and the collection of personal data.”

Social media companies have been given up to 12 months to comply with the new regulations.

The UAE said the framework aligns with broader international efforts to strengthen online child protection while maintaining a balance between digital access and user safety.

Several countries, including Australia and others across Europe, have in recent years moved to tighten restrictions on children’s use of social media amid mounting concerns over the platforms’ impact on young people’s mental health and online safety. (Arise News)

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