The UAE is introducing new restrictions on youth access to social media, becoming the latest country to tighten regulations around children’s online activity.

A new Cabinet resolution will prohibit children under the age of 15 from creating or using personal social media accounts, marking a significant shift in the country’s approach to digital safety. Social media companies operating in the UAE will have up to 12 months to gradually implement the new requirements in coordination with government authorities.

The policy arrives amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health, academic performance, and overall development. According to data from a 2024 survey, children in the UAE spend an average of 3 hours per day on social media platforms.

Researchers and child-development specialists have increasingly linked excessive social media use among young users to higher rates of anxiety, attention-related challenges, academic difficulties, and, in some cases, delays in speech and language development.

A TIERED APPROACH TO YOUTH ACCESS

While children under 15 will be barred from accessing social media platforms, the new framework creates a separate category for teenagers aged 15 and 16.

Under the rules, users in that age group will be allowed access to social media services, but with enhanced safeguards built into their accounts. These protections include age-appropriate content controls, restrictions on potentially harmful material, and limits on interactions with unknown users.

Platforms will also be expected to introduce tools that regulate screen time and usage duration, while expanding parental-control features designed to give families greater oversight of online activity.

The government said the measures are intended to create a digital environment better aligned with the developmental needs and safety requirements of younger users.

PART OF A BROADER GLOBAL TREND

The UAE’s move reflects a growing international effort to regulate children’s access to social media. Governments in countries including Australia, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia have introduced or explored legislation aimed at increasing protections for minors online.

For technology companies, the UAE’s regulations will likely intensify pressure to strengthen age-verification systems and redesign platform features for younger audiences. The implementation period provides companies with a year to adapt their products and compliance processes before the standards take full effect.

As policymakers around the world debate the role of social media in children’s lives, the UAE’s decision signals a stronger regulatory stance that prioritizes digital safety and parental oversight over unrestricted access.