Children under the age of 15 will not be allowed to use social media, once a new resolution from the UAE Cabinet is ratified into law.
Anyone below this age will be prohibited from creating, using or operating personal accounts on social media platforms, state news agency Wam reported on Wednesday.
They are also prohibited from accessing the full features of such platforms, including social interaction, publishing, commenting, sharing, joining public groups, open channels, or any large-scale interactive spaces.
The cabinet, led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, made a resolution to "establish an advanced model for child protection in the digital space, reinforcing the national digital safety framework in line with the rapid evolution of technology use, and striking a balance between enabling responsible use of modern technologies and ensuring the highest standards of child protection".
The resolution is applicable to all social media platforms that enable users to create accounts or personal profiles, engage in social interaction, publish or share content, or that rely on algorithmic systems to display, rank, or recommend content, whether free or paid.
It applies to all platforms whose services are available within the UAE or are directed at users in the country, Wam said.
Social media platforms are required to introduce all necessary technical and administrative measures to enforce the restrictions for anyone under the age of 15, the cabinet resolution said. Children between 15 and 16 are permitted to use social media platforms on the condition that enhanced protective measures are applied to their accounts.
The measures listed in the resolution include "age-appropriate content classification and restriction, disabling high-risk features such as interaction with unknown users, regulation of usage time and duration, and the provision of parental control tools, ensuring a safe digital environment appropriate to their age".
The mandate from the cabinet states that the self-declaration of age shall not be accepted as a valid method of verification. Social media providers are to make sure the mechanisms used "achieve a high level of accuracy in determining user age, while adhering to the highest standards of child privacy and personal data protection".
This includes minimising data collection, securing data processing and ensuring data is not retained beyond the period strictly necessary. The mechanisms will be subject to regular reviews and auditing.
Measures must also be taken by social media platforms to monitor personal accounts created by children under the age of 15 in breach of the resolution's provisions. Immediate action is to be taken to suspend or disable such accounts.
The resolution says social media companies have up to 12 months to bring their operations in line with the ruling.
