One Week, Two Nations: UAE Bans Social Media for Children Under 15

By Pranjal Gupta

New Delhi, June 18: Within a week, another nation has banned social media for young children to protect them from harmful and unsupervised content. On Thursday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) officially set 15 years as the minimum age for children to use social media platforms. This also makes the UAE the first nation in the Arab world to impose such a restriction. On Monday, the United Kingdom (UK) announced a sweeping ban on social media for under-16s, aiming to "give kids their childhood back."

Before that, Australia pioneered the movement with its landmark December 2025 legislation, quickly followed by hard-line bans in Indonesia and Malaysia, alongside tightening curbs across Europe.

The UAE has become the first Arab nation to set 15 years as the minimum age for children to access social media platforms. (Representative Image, Source: Unsplash)

“The UAE Cabinet issues a resolution regulating children's access to social media platforms and sets the minimum age for social media use at (15) years. The resolution allows social media platforms to progressively implement the new standards through a transitional period of up to 12 months, in coordination with the relevant authorities, ensuring technical and regulatory readiness,” the UAE government said in an official post on X (formerly Twitter).

Why Social Media Is Dangerous for Children

Studies conducted in various parts of the world have revealed that early exposure to social media can contribute to several mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression.

“While digital platforms provide opportunities for social connection, self-expression, and mental health support, they also introduce significant risks, including compulsive social media use, cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty standards, and exposure to substance-related content,” said a report published by the National Library of Medicine, an official website of the US government.

The issue is not restricted to the US, nor is it limited to mental health concerns. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) revealed that cybercrime against children surged by 32% between 2021 and 2022.

UAE Urges Parental Supervision

The resolution provides families with a clear framework and practical tools to help guide children toward more responsible and mindful digital engagement.

The government also clarified that “parental consent shall not constitute a valid exemption from the prohibitions or restrictions set out in the resolution.”