Social Media Banned for Children in This Country; Australia and the UK Have Also Imposed Restrictions

UAE Social Media Ban: Following Australia and the UK, the UAE has now restricted children's access to social media platforms. Companies have been granted a 12-month period to ensure compliance with these regulations.

UAE Social Media Ban: After Australia and the UK, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has joined the list of countries banning social media for children. According to reports, the minimum age for using social media platforms in the UAE has been set at 15 years. This means children under the age of 15 will not be able to use social media platforms. The UAE has become the first Arab nation to take this step.

Children Will Not Be Able to Create Social Media Accounts

Under the new rules, children under 15 will not be permitted to create, operate, or use social media accounts. Consequently, they will be unable to post content, comment, share, or join public groups on these platforms. While children over 15 are exempt from the ban, additional safety measures will be implemented for those aged 15 and 16. Users in this age group will be prevented from communicating with strangers, and platforms will be required to introduce safeguards such as screen time management, parental supervision, and age-appropriate content controls.

Social Media Companies Must Implement Age Verification

With these new regulations, the UAE has made age verification mandatory for social media companies. Platforms must now verify users' ages using digital identity checks and AI technology; a user's self-declared age will not be accepted as verification. These rules apply to all social media companies operating in the UAE. If a child under 15 creates an account, the company is required to disable it. Additionally, companies will be prohibited from using children's personal data for behavioral profiling and targeted advertising. Social media companies have been granted a 12-month period to comply with these regulations.

Growing Trend of Banning Social Media for Children

Following Australia's initiative, there is a growing global trend toward banning social media platforms for children. The UK recently announced such a move, and several other nations—including Canada, Malaysia, France, Norway, and Germany—have also begun considering similar measures. Social media is having a significant adverse impact on children's mental and physical health; in light of this, governments are now imposing restrictions on children's access to these platforms.