UAE Becomes First Arab Country To Ban Social Media Accounts For Children Under 15.

The United Arab Emirates has introduced a new nationwide rule banning children under the age of 15 from creating or operating personal social media accounts, marking a first for any Arab country.

The decision, approved by the UAE cabinet on Thursday, reflects a growing global trend of governments tightening restrictions on children’s access to social media amid concerns about harmful content, unsafe online interactions, excessive screen time, and the collection of personal data.

According to the state news agency WAM, the new regulation sets “the minimum age for social media use at 15 years,” and explicitly prohibits younger children from creating, using, or managing personal accounts on social media platforms.

Children under 15 will also be barred from accessing key platform features, including posting content, commenting, sharing, joining public groups, participating in open channels, and engaging in large-scale interactive spaces.

Unlike systems in some other countries where parental consent can allow younger users to access social media, the UAE’s policy does not include such exemptions. This means that even with parental approval, children under 15 will not be permitted to maintain personal accounts.

The new framework also places responsibility on social media companies to enforce age restrictions more strictly and ensure safer digital environments for younger users.

While the ban applies to those under 15, teenagers aged 15 and 16 will still be allowed to use social media platforms. However, their access will come with added safeguards, including age-appropriate content filters, limits on interactions with unknown users, screen-time management tools, and enhanced parental supervision features.

With this move, the UAE becomes the first Arab nation to formally impose a minimum age requirement of 15 for personal social media accounts, signaling a stricter regional approach to child online safety and digital wellbeing.