UAE Strengthens Digital Safety: Social Media Ban for Children Under 15 Enforced

Dubai has enacted a significant policy change regarding children’s access to social media. Following a Cabinet Resolution issued on June 17, 2026, children under the age of 15 will be prohibited from creating or managing social media accounts. This legislation, known as Cabinet Resolution No. 106 of 2026, aims to enhance digital safety for minors and holds social media platforms accountable for preventing underage access.

Overview of the New Resolution

The newly established regulations set a minimum age of 15 for social media use. Children below this age are barred from several activities, including:

• Creating personal social media accounts
• Operating existing accounts
• Accessing the full interactive features of social media platforms

Article 32 (b) of the resolution explicitly outlines these restrictions, which include joining public groups and participating in large online communities. Notably, parents are not permitted to grant permission to bypass these restrictions.

Provisions for Ages 15-16

The resolution allows children aged 15 and 16 to have social media accounts, but it mandates additional protections. These include:

• Content Restrictions: Platforms must filter or restrict access to harmful and age-inappropriate content.
• Limited Interaction: Companies are required to minimize interactions with users unknown to the child and their caregiver.
• Screen-Time Controls: Platforms must offer tools to limit access times and restrict usage during late hours.
• Parental Supervision Tools: Parents should have the ability to monitor account settings and adjust privacy controls.
• High-Risk Feature Restrictions: Features such as unrestricted private messaging and open live-streaming may be disabled or limited.

Applicability of the Resolution

This resolution applies to all social media platforms that allow users to:

• Create accounts or personal profiles
• Engage in social interactions
• Publish or share content
• Utilize algorithmic systems for content display, ranking, or recommendations

These regulations encompass companies operating within the UAE, regardless of their country of origin.

Rationale Behind the Implementation

The primary objective of the resolution is to bolster children’s digital safety and foster a secure online environment. Key concerns addressed in the legislation include:

• Exposure to harmful or age-inappropriate content
• Interactions with unknown users
• Risks associated with features like unrestricted messaging and intensive recommendation algorithms
• The necessity to protect children from exploitation and digital risks
• Safeguarding children’s personal data and limiting behavioral advertising

The resolution also emphasizes the responsibility of social media companies in protecting young users.

Age Verification Mechanisms

To ensure accurate age verification, the resolution outlines various methods that may be implemented, including:

• Government digital identity systems
• Scanning official identity documents
• AI-based age estimation technology
• Utilizing licensed age-verification providers

The law specifies that simply entering a birth date or self-declaring an age will not suffice.

Timeline for Implementation

Social media platforms have a year to gradually implement the new regulations while collaborating with relevant authorities to ensure compliance.

Accountability of Social Media Platforms

The resolution details specific responsibilities for social media platforms, including:

1. Age Verification Methods: Companies must implement reliable verification methods and limit data collection solely to age verification, prohibiting the retention of biometric data.
2. Blocking Underage Accounts: Existing accounts belonging to underage users must be identified and suspended.
3. Refraining from Targeted Ads: Platforms must avoid targeting children with advertisements based on tracking and behavioral profiling.
4. Supporting Parents and Children: Social media companies are required to integrate digital awareness tools aimed at promoting safe usage among children and their caregivers.
5. Compliance Reporting: Platforms must conduct regular assessments of digital safety risks and report their compliance measures to the relevant authorities.

The implementation of these regulations will be overseen by the UAE’s National Media Authority, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), and the Child Digital Safety Council.

For further details, refer to the source: www.emirates247.com.

Read all the latest developments and breaking updates in the Latest News section.

Published on 2026-06-23 17:31:00 • By the Editorial Desk