Ban on social media for children under 15 in the United Arab...

By GT24x7 Correspondents · 18 June 2026 · GlobalToday24x7

To enhance the online safety of children, the UAE government has set a minimum age of 15 for social media usage. This decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Under the new regulations, children under the age of 15 will not be permitted to open social media accounts, post content, comment, share material, or join public groups.

Users aged 15 to 16 will have restricted access, subject to safety measures such as strict content controls, screen-time limits, and parental supervision. Social media platforms will now be required to implement robust age verification systems; self-declared age alone will not be accepted. The authorities have clarified that these rules cannot be bypassed, even with parental consent. All platforms must implement strong age verification mechanisms, and user-stated age will not be considered valid.

These regulations will apply to all social media platforms operating in the UAE or targeting users within the country. The 'National Media Authority' and the 'Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority' will oversee the implementation of these rules. Platforms have been granted a period of up to 12 months to fully implement these regulations.