UAE Sets Minimum Social Media Age at 15, Mandates Checks

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has established a minimum age of 15 for social media usage, marking it as the first Arab nation to implement such a restriction. This decision comes amidst global efforts to address growing concerns over online platforms’ impact on children.

Under Thursday’s resolution, individuals under 15 will be barred from creating, using, or operating personal social media accounts. The ban prohibits posting content, commenting, sharing, or joining public groups. Teenagers aged 15 and 16 are permitted to use social media with enhanced safeguards, including age-appropriate content controls, restrictions on interaction with unknown users, screen-time management tools, and parental supervision features.

The regulations apply to all social media platforms operating in the UAE, mandating companies to implement robust age-verification measures. These include digital identity checks and AI-supported technologies; self-declaration of age will not be accepted as a valid form of verification.

Platforms must disable accounts created by children under 15, prevent users from circumventing age-verification systems, and refrain from using children’s personal data for targeted advertising or behavioral profiling. The government stated that these measures aim to address 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 up to 12 months to comply with the new regulations. The UAE noted that this framework aligns with international efforts to strengthen online child protection while balancing digital access with safety.