UAE Bans Children Under 15 From Social Media Platforms

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a nationwide ban preventing children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, joining a growing list of countries introducing stricter online safety regulations for minors.

The decision was approved by the UAE Cabinet and formally announced on Thursday through the country's official news agency, WAM.

Under the new regulation, social media companies operating within the UAE must identify, monitor and disable accounts belonging to users below the age threshold. Authorities have granted technology companies a 12-month transition period to fully comply with the directive.

According to the cabinet resolution, the minimum age for operating a social media account in the UAE has now been set at 15 years. Children below that age will not be allowed to create personal accounts or access core platform features, including posting content, commenting, sharing information, joining public groups or participating in large-scale interactive online communities.

The UAE government said the policy forms part of broader efforts to enhance child protection in digital spaces and ensure safer online experiences for young users. The country's media and telecommunications regulators have been empowered to enforce compliance and take action against platforms that fail to implement the restrictions.

Potential sanctions include warnings, administrative penalties and partial or complete blocking of non-compliant platforms.

The UAE's decision follows similar measures introduced in countries such as Australia, Britain and Canada, reflecting a growing global debate over the impact of social media on children and adolescent mental health.

Authorities say the new framework aims to balance technological innovation with the need to safeguard young people from online risks, harmful content and digital exploitation.