The UAE Cabinet has passed a resolution setting 15 as the minimum age for social media use, prohibiting children below that threshold from creating accounts, engaging in social interaction, or accessing core platform features including commenting, sharing, and joining public groups.
The resolution, chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, applies to all social media platforms available within the UAE or directed at users in the country, regardless of whether they are free or paid. That scope covers any platform that allows account creation, social interaction, content publishing, or algorithmic content recommendation.
Children aged 15 and 16 may use platforms under enhanced restrictions: accounts must apply age-appropriate content filters, disable interaction with unknown users, limit usage time, and offer parental control tools. Crucially, the resolution explicitly states that parental consent does not exempt a child from the prohibitions. Caregivers may configure settings within the permitted controls, but cannot override the underlying restrictions.
Platforms are required to deploy reliable age verification, which may include digital identity checks and AI-supported biometric tools approved by the Child Digital Safety Council. Self-declaration of age is explicitly prohibited as a verification method. Platforms must also monitor for under-15 accounts created in violation of the resolution and take immediate action to suspend them.
On data and advertising, the resolution bars platforms from targeting children with personalised ads based on behavioural profiling and prohibits processing their data for commercial tracking purposes.
Oversight sits with the National Media Authority and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, each within their respective jurisdictions. Non-compliance can trigger warnings, partial or full platform blocking, or administrative penalties under a graduated enforcement approach.
Platforms have up to 12 months to bring operations into compliance.
The UAE’s move tracks similar legislation elsewhere. Australia passed a law last year setting a social media age minimum of 16, and several European countries have introduced or are debating comparable restrictions under digital safety frameworks.
