UAE Bans Social Media Accounts for Children Under 15, Rejects Parental Consent as an Exception

In a landmark move to strengthen child safety in the digital space, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Cabinet has approved a sweeping resolution prohibiting children below the age of 15 from creating or operating personal accounts on social media platforms.

Significantly, the new rules categorically reject parental or guardian consent as a valid exemption, making the restriction one of the strictest child online safety measures in the world.

The resolution was approved under the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

It builds upon Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2025 on Child Digital Safety, which came into effect on January 1, 2026.

The legislation marks a decisive shift in the country’s approach to protecting minors from the growing risks associated with social media and online platforms.

Under the new framework, children between the ages of 15 and 16 will be allowed to use social media only under stringent safeguards.

Platforms must introduce enhanced protective measures for these accounts, including age-appropriate content filtering, restrictions on potentially harmful features, regulated screen time and robust parental control mechanisms.

The resolution also imposes strict limits on the collection of personal information belonging to younger children.

Companies will be prohibited from gathering the personal data of children under the age of 13 unless they obtain verifiable parental consent.

The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has been entrusted with overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the new regulations.

Social media companies have been given until December 31, 2026, to fully comply with the requirements.

What the New Rules Mean for Families

The resolution goes far beyond what many parents may have anticipated. Even if a parent or guardian wishes to permit a child under 15 to use social media, their approval will carry no legal weight and cannot override the restrictions imposed under the law.

The regulations also place significant responsibilities on parents and guardians.

They are now legally obligated to actively monitor and supervise their children’s digital activities.

At the same time, the law provides families with tools and resources designed to encourage responsible and safe online behaviour among minors.

What Social Media Platforms Must Do

The new regulations impose substantial obligations on social media companies operating in the UAE.

Platforms must deploy reliable and accurate age-verification systems capable of identifying underage users and preventing unauthorised account creation.

Companies will also be required to continuously monitor non-compliant accounts and take immediate corrective action whenever violations are detected.

Authorities have granted platforms a transition period of up to 12 months to introduce these measures in coordination with government agencies.

Importantly, the law applies not only to companies headquartered in the UAE but to any digital platform that operates in the country or serves users residing there, irrespective of where the company is based.

Why the Decision Matters to Indians in the UAE

The resolution directly affects approximately 3.5 million Indians living in the UAE, making it particularly significant for the country’s largest expatriate community, which includes a substantial number of families with school-going children.

The UAE’s approach differs markedly from India’s existing legal framework governing children’s online safety.

Under India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, any individual below the age of 18 is classified as a child, and digital platforms are required to obtain parental consent before processing children’s personal information.

However, India currently does not prohibit minors from accessing social media platforms.

Discussions surrounding age-based restrictions have emerged periodically in recent years, including proposals at the state level and observations by courts and policymakers concerning the growing challenges posed by children’s online exposure.

The UAE’s decision to explicitly reject parental consent as an exception places it among the most stringent regulatory models globally and is likely to intensify discussions in India and elsewhere on how governments should address children’s interaction with social media.

Part of a Growing Global Trend

The UAE has now joined a rapidly expanding list of countries—including Australia, Indonesia, Turkey, Greece, France and Denmark—that have tightened regulations governing children’s access to social media platforms.

What distinguishes the UAE’s model is its emphasis on preventive intervention rather than punitive action.

Legal experts have pointed out that while earlier digital regulations largely focused on responding to harm after it occurred, the Child Digital Safety Law is fundamentally designed to prevent potential harm before it happens.

The new resolution underscores the UAE’s determination to build a safer digital ecosystem for children and signals a broader global shift towards stronger regulation of social media platforms as governments increasingly grapple with concerns over online safety, mental health and the long-term impact of digital exposure on young users.