UAE Bans Under-15s from Social Media, Imposes Strict Age Verification

The United Arab Emirates has implemented a strict new policy, banning children under the age of 15 from creating and using social media accounts. The decision, formalized by the UAE Cabinet, aims to enhance online safety for minors.

According to the new regulation, individuals must be at least 15 years old to manage personal accounts on social media platforms. Those younger than 15 are prohibited from posting content, commenting, or joining public groups. Social media companies are now obligated to identify and promptly block accounts that violate this age restriction.

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Children under this age are prohibited from creating, using, or managing personal accounts on social media platforms.

For teenagers aged 15 to 16, access to social media will be permitted but subject to stringent controls. Platforms must filter content, limit usage time, and disable interaction features with unknown users for this age group. Furthermore, the use of minors' personal data for commercial purposes and targeted advertising is forbidden. The government emphasized that parental consent cannot override these new rules.

Social media platforms have been given a 12-month grace period to integrate robust age verification mechanisms, such as digital IDs or biometrics. Failure to comply could result in sanctions, including partial or full blocking of the service within the UAE and administrative fines.

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Parental consent cannot serve as a basis for waiving these restrictions.