UAE Implements Minimum Age of 15 for Social Media Use

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has established itself as the first Arab nation to impose a minimum age requirement for social media use, setting the age at 15. This decision was officially approved by the UAE government on 18 June 2026 and aims to restrict children below this age from creating or managing personal accounts on popular platforms.

The new regulation also limits underage users' access to various features offered by social media sites. This move positions the UAE alongside a growing number of countries globally that are tightening regulations concerning children's engagements with social media. Concerns have been raised about the impact of online platforms on young users, especially regarding mental health, cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and excessive screen time.

Countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Malaysia are also exploring similar measures to enhance protections for minors online. Recently, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer detailed plans to prevent children under the age of 16 from accessing major platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, with these restrictions expected to be implemented in the following year. "Every parent can see it with their own eyes. Social media is making children unhappy," Prime Minister Starmer commented while unveiling these initiatives.

The British government's proposed measures are inspired by Australia's approach, which was among the first nations to ban children under 16 from maintaining social media accounts and includes penalties for platforms failing to adequately prevent underage access. The planned restrictions in the UK are set to encompass popular social media services like Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X, while exceptions may apply to YouTube Kids and messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Signal.

The UAE's recent decision reflects a significant shift in policy within the Arab world as governments increasingly seek to enact stronger supervision of children's activities on digital platforms. This aligns with a wider global trend where authorities are recognising the need to protect young individuals from the potential negative effects associated with social media usage.