The UAE has approved a new resolution aimed at strengthening online safety for children, introducing age-based restrictions on social media access.
Children under 15 years of age will not be allowed to create or use personal social media accounts or access their full features. They will be prohibited from posting content, commenting, sharing posts, or joining public groups. Parental consent will not exempt children under 15 from these restrictions.
Children aged 15 and 16 will be permitted to use social media under enhanced safety measures.
Protective measures will include:
- Age-appropriate content restrictions
- Disabling high-risk features
- Limits on usage time
- Parental control tools
Social media platforms will have up to 12 months to implement the new requirements in coordination with relevant authorities.
Stronger Age Verification:
- Platforms will no longer be able to rely solely on users self-declaring their age.
- They will be required to adopt reliable age-verification systems to confirm users' digital identities.
- Approved technologies may include AI-powered tools, biometric verification, and other methods endorsed by the Child Digital Safety Council.
- Age-verification systems will be regularly reviewed, and users will be informed about how they operate.
The UAE said the new framework aligns with global efforts to enhance child protection online while ensuring safe and responsible digital access.
