No social media for under-15s: What you need to know about the UAE’s new law

Big changes are coming to how kids use social media in the UAE. The UAE Cabinet has issued a new resolution that officially bans children under the age of 15 from creating or using personal accounts on any social media platforms.

What’s changing? 

The new framework introduces strict requirements for both families and tech companies:

• The under-15 ban: Anyone under 15 is prohibited from opening accounts or accessing the full features of social media apps

• No parental exceptions: Parents cannot grant permission or written consent to bypass this rule. The ban applies across the board

• The 15-16 transition: Teens between 15 and 16 will get a regulated version of social media. This means age-appropriate content filters, restricted interactions, capped usage times, and parental controls

• Data privacy: Social media companies are banned from tracking or using the personal data of children for commercial or marketing purposes

  
  

What happens next?

These changes won't happen overnight. The government is giving social media platforms a 12-month transitional period to update their systems and get everything working properly.

Over the next year, tech companies have to build accurate age-verification mechanisms. They are also required to monitor platforms for accounts that break these rules and close them immediately.

As this shift happens towards creating a safer, more mindful digital environment for the next generation, for parents and caregivers, this means the responsibility ultimately sits with you to keep an eye on what your kids are doing online and help them build safer digital habits.

Stay tuned for more details about the why the UAE bans Social Media for under 15s