UAE bans social media use by under-15 children

DUBAI — The United ​Arab Emirates on Thursday approved a resolution setting the minimum ‌age ‌for social ​media ‌use ⁠at ​15, becoming the ⁠first Arab ‌country to ‌introduce ​such ‌a ‌measure, the state news agency WAM reported.The resolution, which was passed by the UAE’s Cabinet, prohibits children under 15 ‌from creating or using personal ⁠social media ⁠accounts and restricts their access to the platforms’ full features, WAM said.They are also prohibited from accessing the full features of such platforms, including social interaction, publishing, commenting, sharing, joining public groups, open channels, or any large-scale interactive spaces, the report added.Governments around the world have increasingly sought to impose age-based restrictions on social media platforms, arguing that children are vulnerable to harmful content, cyberbullying and addictive online behavior.The UAE follows a host of other nations implementing similar laws regulating access to social media for children, including the United Kingdom, Australia and Malaysia.The move comes amid growing global concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health, online safety and screen time. The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, made the ruling in order to “establish an advanced model for child protection in the digital space, reinforcing the national digital safety framework in line with the rapid evolution of technology use, and striking a balance between enabling responsible use of modern technologies and ensuring the highest standards of child protection”, the report said.The resolution is applicable to all social media platforms that enable users to create accounts or personal profiles, engage in social interaction, publish or share content, or that rely on algorithmic systems to display, rank, or recommend content, whether free or paid, WAM said.It applies to all platforms whose services are available within the UAE or are directed at users in the country.According to a survey published in 2024, Emirati children spend around three hours daily on these platforms.Experts have warned that prolonged social media usage among children raised many challenges, including anxiety, attention difficulties, academic struggles, and, in some instances, speech delays.