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.

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

The ban means they will not be allowed to post content, comment, share material or join public groups, according to the government's media office.

Young people aged 15 and 16 will still be able to access social media, but only under stricter safeguards. These include controls on the content they can view, limits on interaction with unknown users, screen-time management tools and parental supervision features.

Officials said the measures are intended to balance access to digital platforms with stronger protections for young users.

Mandatory age verification

The new regulations apply to all social media companies operating in the UAE and require platforms to introduce robust age-verification systems.

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Measures include digital identity checks and artificial intelligence-supported technologies. Self-declaration of age will no longer be accepted as valid verification.

Platforms must also disable accounts created by children under 15, prevent users from bypassing verification systems and refrain from using children's personal data for targeted advertising or behavioural profiling.

The government said the framework is designed to reduce risks associated with social media use, including exposure to inappropriate content, unsafe online interactions, excessive screen time and the misuse of personal data.

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Officials described the policy as part of a broader effort to strengthen online child protection while maintaining age-appropriate access to digital services.

Social media companies will have up to 12 months to comply fully with the new requirements.

The UAE said the framework aligns with international efforts to improve online safety for children. The move follows similar steps taken by countries including Australia and several European nations amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on young people's mental health and wellbeing.

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