By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. | adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Editor, DDNews |
The United Arab Emirates has announced a comprehensive ban on social media use for children under the age of 15, joining a growing list of countries taking strict measures to protect young people from the potential harms of online platforms.
According to a cabinet resolution announced on Thursday, social media platforms will be required to monitor and disable accounts created by users under 15 years old or risk being blocked in the country. Platforms have been given a 12-month transition period to comply with the new regulation.
“The resolution sets the minimum age for social media use at 15 years,” the official WAM news agency reported. “Children below this age are prohibited from creating, using, or operating personal accounts on social media platforms.”
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Under the new rules, children under 15 are also barred from accessing full features of such platforms, including social interaction, publishing, commenting, sharing, joining public groups, open channels, or any large-scale interactive spaces.
The UAE’s media and telecommunications regulatory bodies have been empowered to take necessary enforcement actions, including issuing warnings, imposing partial or full blocking of platforms, or applying administrative penalties for non-compliance.
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The move follows similar decisions in other countries. Australia implemented a world-first ban for users under 16 in December 2025, while Britain and Canada have also announced or are considering comparable restrictions.
The UAE’s decision reflects growing global concern over the impact of social media on children’s mental health, privacy, and development. Authorities aim to shield young users from exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and addictive scrolling.
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This latest regulation is expected to significantly influence how social media companies operate in the Gulf region, one of the world’s most digitally connected areas.
DDNewsOnline – Lagos
By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. (Beedee)
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