The UAE has become the latest country to ban social media for children , introducing a minimum age of 15 and requiring platforms to implement robust age-verification measures.
Under new rules approved by the Cabinet, children under 15 will be prohibited from creating or operating social media accounts, while 15 and 16-year-olds will be subject to enhanced protections, including restrictions on content, interactions with strangers and screen time.
The move places the UAE among a growing number of countries seeking to curb children's access to social media amid concerns over mental health, online safety, addictive design features and exposure to harmful content.
Here are the countries that have already introduced restrictions – or are moving towards them.
Australia
On December 10 last year, Australia became the first country in the world to introduce a nationwide social media ban for children under 16. The law requires major platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from holding accounts or face fines of up to $49.5 million. Platforms affected include Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, X and YouTube.
Indonesia
Indonesia became the first Asian country to implement a social media ban for children this year. Since March 28, accounts for under-16s on "high-risk" platforms were deactivated, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and Roblox.
"Our children are facing increasingly real threats, ranging from exposure to pornography, cyber bullying and online scams, to addiction, which is the most significant concern," said Meutya Hafid, the country's communications and digital affairs minister, when announcing the ban in early March.
"The government is stepping in so that parents no longer have to fight alone against the giants of algorithm-driven platforms."
Malaysia
Malaysia began enforcing rules barring children younger than 16 from having social media accounts on June 1. Social media platforms with at least 8 million users in Malaysia, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, must implement age-verification systems and block users under 16 from creating accounts, the country's Communications and Multimedia Commission said.
Users identified as under 16 have been given a month to download or transfer data, including photos and videos, before restrictions or other actions are applied.
Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 10 million ringgit ($2.5 million), the Associated Press reported, but parents whose children manage to bypass the law will not be penalised.
UAE
The UAE Cabinet approved a social media ban for children under the age of 15 on June 18. The Cabinet, led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid , Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, issued the ruling to "establish an advanced model for child protection in the digital space".
Social media platforms have a transitional period of up to 12 months to bring their operations into compliance, the Cabinet's resolution said.
UK
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the ban on children's use of social media will be implemented within a year. Reuters Info
The UK will introduce a full ban on social media and gaming sites for children under the age of 16 "within a year", Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on June 15.
The sweeping reforms will prohibit children from accessing sites such as TikTok and Instagram, as well as live-streaming and gaming sites. "Do we truly believe that social media creates a happy environment for our children?" Mr Starmer asked at a media briefing while announcing the move.
“We're not just bringing forward a ban, we're going further, we're taking world-leading action on gaming services and live-streaming platforms, where at the moment strangers can contact any child unchecked,” he added.
France
France's National Assembly approved legislation to ban children under 15 from social media. The bill was approved by the lower house in January, but has to be passed by the Senate before it becomes law.
President Emmanuel Macron called for the government to accelerate the next steps "so that this ban takes effect as early as next school year", which begins in September.
Countries proposing a ban
Spain
Spain has also proposed a ban on social media for children under 16. While the ban needs parliamentary approval, the proposed law will protect children "from the digital Wild West", Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.
"Today, our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone. We will no longer accept that. We will protect them," Mr Sanchez said in a speech at the World Governments Summit in Dubai in February.
Denmark
The Danish government announced in November last year that it had secured an agreement by three governing coalitions and two opposition parties in parliament to ban access to social media for anyone under the age of 15.
Minister for Digital Affairs Caroline Stage, who announced the proposed ban, told AP last year there is still a consultation pro…
Read the full article at The National →📄Source document: UAE Cabinet Approval
6 reports
The NationalState / PublicCenter2 days agoThe UAE Cabinet has announced a ban on social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for children under the age of 15. The article discusses the author's personal experience growing up without social media and argues that children can still have fulfilling lives without these platforms.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a personal perspective on growing up without social media and provides practical alternatives for children. It does not take a clear ideological stance or favor one side over another in terms of policy or politics. The content focuses on cultural and lifestyle aspects ratherthan
Gulf NewsParty-aligned🔒Center3 days agoThe article discusses the implementation of a new social media ban targeting children under the age of 15 in the United Arab Emirates. It outlines the details of the policy, including how it will be enforced and what parents and guardians need to know.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a cultural/national policy related to child protection and does not present any overtly political stance or biased framing. The content appears to be informative and neutral in tone.
The NationalState / PublicCenter3 days ago UAE bans social media for under-15s: Which countries have similar rules?The UAE has implemented a ban on social media for individuals under the age of 15, requiring platforms to enforce strict age verification. Children aged 15 and 16 will also face additional safeguards, such as content restrictions, limitations on interacting with strangers, and controls on screen time. This policy aligns the UAE with other nations like Australia and Indonesia, which have introduced similar regulations aimed at protecting minors from potential harms associated with social media.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly favoring any political perspective. It outlines policies enacted by various governments without using biased language or selectively emphasizing certain viewpoints.
Official sources cited
- government UAE Cabinet Approval
- government Australian Social Media Ban Law
- government Indonesian Social Media Regulations
Gulf NewsParty-aligned🔒Center3 days ago UAE bans social media for children under the age of 15The United Arab Emirates has implemented a ban on social media usage for children under the age of 15.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual statement without opinion, framing, or emphasis that suggests a particular ideological stance. It simply reports the implementation of a policy without commentary or contextualization that would indicate a leaning.
Khaleej TimesParty-alignedCenter3 days agoThe United Arab Emirates has announced plans to implement a ban preventing children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual statement without explicit ideological framing, word-choice, or emphasis that suggests a particular political leaning. It does not include quotes, opinions, or contextual elements that would indicate a slant.
The NationalState / PublicCenter4 days ago Children on social media are not users to be monetisedThe article discusses growing global efforts to restrict social media access for minors, citing recent policies such as the UK's ban on social media for those under 16 and restrictions on AI chatbots for under-18s. It highlights concerns over algorithmic addiction, cyberbullying, adolescent mental health, and exposure to harmful content. The author notes that these measures represent a shift in media policy, emphasizing child safety and public health rather than solely free expression.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced overview of international policy developments without overtly favoring any particular ideological stance. It references multiple countries' actions and mentions concerns raised by various stakeholders without taking a clear position on the merits of the policies.
AE