The UAE Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved a new decision regulating how children can access social media platforms. The move responds to the rising use of social media among children and the growing risks that come with it, from exposure to harmful content to unsafe online interactions.
What the New Rules Say
The decision sets 15 as the minimum age for using social media in the UAE. Here are the core provisions:
- Under 15: Children below this age cannot create or operate personal accounts and are blocked from full platform features such as posting, commenting, sharing, joining public groups, or open channels.
- Ages 15 to 16: Teens in this group can use platforms, but only with stronger safeguards, including age-appropriate content filtering, limits on interacting with unknown users, regulated screen time, and parental control tools.
- Real age verification required: Platforms must use reliable methods such as digital identity checks or AI-based biometric tools. Simply self-declaring your age will no longer count as valid verification.
- Parental consent is not a loophole: A parent’s approval does not exempt a child from any of the restrictions in the decision.
- Data protection: Platforms cannot track children’s activity to serve personalised ads or process their data for commercial gain.
Stronger Protections for Teens Aged 15–16
While 15 and 16 year olds are allowed access, their accounts come with built-in protections. High-risk features like contact with strangers are disabled, usage time is managed, and caregivers can adjust account settings through parental controls, as long as those adjustments don’t override the official restrictions.
Platforms Must Monitor and Report
Any platform operating in or directed at users in the UAE must actively monitor for under-15 accounts that breach the rules and suspend or disable them immediately. Platforms are also required to:
- Prevent users from bypassing age-verification systems
- Provide parental control tools and safety awareness materials
- Carry out regular child digital safety risk assessments
- Submit periodic reports to the relevant authorities
Responsibility of Caregivers
The decision also places clear duties on parents and guardians. They are expected to supervise their child’s online activity, avoid helping children bypass age checks, and actively educate them on safe and responsible internet use.
Who Enforces It
Oversight falls to the National Media Authority and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, each within its area of responsibility. They can issue warnings, partially or fully block non-compliant platforms, or impose administrative penalties. The Child Digital Safety Council will assess risks and ensure the framework is properly implemented and continually improved.
A 12-Month Transition Period
Platforms have been given up to 12 months to bring their systems into full compliance, working alongside the relevant authorities to ensure both technical and regulatory readiness during this transition.
Part of a Wider Framework
This decision fits into a broader set of UAE laws covering child rights, cybercrime, personal data protection, and media regulation. It positions the UAE alongside leading global efforts in digital child protection, balancing innovation with safety and reinforcing the country’s commitment to a secure online environment for young people.
Source: Emirates 24|7
