The UAE Media Office announced that the resolution prohibits children under 15 from creating, using or operating personal social media accounts on any platform. Under the rules, minors in that age group cannot post content, comment, share material or join public groups. The government’s media office stated that the measure applies to both free and paid services as authorities seek to address risks associated with early exposure.
Platforms now have one year to review and delete accounts belonging to users under 15, according to a Reuters dispatch from Dubai that cited the official resolution. Those aged 15 and 16 may access services only with enhanced parental controls, age-appropriate content filters and restrictions on interactions with unknown users. Failure to comply within the deadline could result in the platform facing a complete ban in the country, the media office indicated.
The decision positions the UAE as the first Arab country to impose a minimum age for social media use, a Reuters report noted on June 19, 2026. It aligns the Gulf state with similar restrictions already enacted in Australia, Britain, Canada and several European nations as well as Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey. State news agency WAM reported that the cabinet acted after weighing evidence of negative effects on children’s mental health, creativity and reading habits.
A Khaleej Times analysis published two days after the approval highlighted how the resolution shifts legal liability toward technology companies, requiring them to enforce age verification rather than relying solely on parental consent. Legal experts quoted in that assessment stressed that platforms must now bear responsibility for preventing underage access. The shift reflects broader global pressure on social media firms to strengthen safeguards for young users.
In Kuwait, specialists have called for parallel legislation to protect minors from comparable online hazards, according to experts cited across regional coverage of the UAE move. Clinical psychologist Dr. Alaa Al-Humaidhi questioned whether children under 15 possess the maturity to handle platforms engineered to maximise engagement. Dr. Al-Humaidhi linked excessive use to heightened risks of anxiety, depression and impaired development of essential life skills.
Dr. Siham Al-Furaih of the National Society for Child Protection described banning access for those under 15 as an urgent necessity because platforms can expose minors to harmful ideas and long-term behavioural consequences. Cybersecurity specialist Mohammed Al-Rashidi proposed mandatory identity and age verification by the platforms themselves together with stronger parental controls. Lawyer Osama Al-Sanad characterised unregulated social media as a direct threat to vulnerable children who can fall victim to manipulation and exploitation.
