UAE Bans Social Media Access for Children Under 15, Companies Given 12 Months to Comply

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has announced a ban on social media access for children under 15 years of age. Social media companies have been granted a 12-month period to enhance their systems; failure to comply within this timeframe will result in penalties. Platforms will now be required to verify users’ ages through biometric or artificial intelligence methods and deactivate accounts operated by users younger than 15.

On June 22 in Kathmandu, following the UAE’s decision to prohibit social media use by children under 15, platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) have been tasked with upgrading their systems within 12 months. Platforms failing to meet these requirements will face administrative sanctions and partial or total bans. Previously, countries including Canada, France, the Czech Republic, Australia, and Malaysia have implemented similar restrictions to limit children’s access to social media.

The recent ruling by the UAE Cabinet compels social media companies to implement strict measures for verifying the age of users, banning targeted advertising toward minors, and ensuring robust child protection standards. User age will no longer be accepted based solely on self-declaration; instead, social media platforms must determine age through government-issued digital IDs, biometric authentication, or AI systems.

The government has allowed a transition period of up to 12 months from the date of the decision’s publication in the official gazette. No exceptions will be made even if children use accounts operated by their parents or guardians. The UAE government has taken note of instances where minors might bypass regulations by accessing social media through parental accounts. Consequently, platforms must also identify and deactivate accounts created by children under 15 under the profiles of parents or guardians.