The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken groundbreaking steps to protect children and teenagers from online risks, harmful content and digital addiction. The country's cabinet has approved a new policy, under which no child under the age of 15 can use social media. Not only opening accounts, but also active participation in Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) or Snapchat is completely banned for them.
As reported by Gulf News, once the new rules come into effect, no child under the age of 15 will be able to open a personal social media account. They will also not be allowed to publish any posts, comment, participate in public groups or engage in online discussions. Most importantly, parental permission will not be considered as an exception in this case.
However, the opportunity to use social media in a limited form has been kept for teenagers aged 15 to 16 years. Security measures such as age-based content control, disabling of risky features and mandatory parental controls will be implemented for users of this age range. As a result, even if they use social media, they will be under strict supervision.
One of the most important aspects of the new policy is the age verification system. The UAE government said social media platforms must use reliable age verification technology. Digital ID, national identity card verification, biometric technology or artificial intelligence based age determination system can be used for this purpose. There will no longer be an opportunity to open an account based solely on the date of birth or information provided by the user.
The new policy also bans the display of targeted ads to ensure children's online privacy and safety. This means that no ads can be shown to children based on their online activities, interests or personal information. Besides, the platform will also be responsible for identifying and closing accounts opened in violation of the age limit.
UAE authorities said detailed instructions on the implementation and supervision of the new law will be published next week. The Act will officially come into force after its publication in the Official Gazette. However, social media companies will be given a maximum of 12 months to adapt to the new system.
According to the government, the main objective of this initiative is to create a safe, balanced and age-appropriate digital environment for children. At the same time, awareness guidance will also be provided for parents on screen time management, safe internet use and dealing with online risks.
Not only families but educational institutions are also being made part of this initiative. Schools are also planning to introduce special trainings and programs to promote digital safety education, online code of conduct and awareness of cyber risks.
Violation of the new rules may lead to severe measures such as administrative fines, partial bans or in severe cases full bans against social media platforms, authorities said.
According to the UAE government, there is no single age limit set globally for social media use. The 15-year age limit has been determined as a realistic and balanced solution, taking into account children's emotional maturity, experience and digital risk factors. The country claims that the new policy is in line with the global trend of strengthening children's digital security.
