The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has set a minimum age of 15 for social media use, becoming the first country in the Arab world to introduce a nationwide age restriction on social media platforms as part of efforts to strengthen online child protection.

Under the new rules approved on Thursday, children under the age of 15 will be prohibited from creating, using or operating personal social media accounts.

In a statement, the UAE Government Media Office said children in this age group will not be allowed to post content, comment on posts, share material or join public groups on social media platforms.

"Additional safeguards for teenagers"

Young people aged 15 and 16 will still be permitted to use social media, but under enhanced safety measures. These include age-appropriate content filters, restrictions on interactions with unknown users, screen-time management tools and parental control features.

The regulations will apply to all social media platforms operating in the UAE. Companies will be required to implement robust age-verification systems, including digital identity verification and artificial intelligence-assisted technologies.

Authorities said self-declaration of age by users alone will not be considered a sufficient verification method.

"Platforms required to strengthen child protection"

Under the new framework, social media companies must close accounts operated by children under 15, prevent circumvention of age-verification systems and refrain from using children's personal data for targeted advertising or behavioral profiling.

The UAE government said the measures are intended to address concerns over children's exposure to inappropriate content, risky online interactions, excessive social media use and the collection of personal data.

Social media companies will be given up to 12 months to comply with the new requirements.

Officials said the policy is consistent with broader international efforts aimed at strengthening online safety and protecting children in digital environments.

Australia and several European countries have also moved in recent years to tighten restrictions on children's use of social media amid growing concerns about mental health, online safety and the impact of digital platforms on young users. (ILKHA)