Dubai: The UAE Cabinet, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, has enacted a significant resolution aimed at regulating children's access to social media platforms.
According to Emirates News Agency, this resolution demonstrates the UAE's dedication to creating an advanced framework for child protection in the digital realm. It seeks to bolster the national digital safety framework in response to the rapid advancements in technology, while also ensuring a balance between responsible technology use and the highest standards of child protection.
The resolution addresses the increasing use of social media by children and the associated digital challenges and risks, such as exposure to inappropriate content, unsafe interactions, the collection of personal data, and excessive usage patterns. This has necessitated the establishment of a comprehensive national framework that allows children to benefit from technology while ensuring their safety in the digital environment. The UAE's approach reflects a proactive stance in developing legislative models that align with global digital transformations and prioritize child safety.
As part of an integrated legislative framework, the resolution complements existing laws on Child Rights, cybercrimes, personal data protection, media regulation, and child digital safety. It reinforces institutional integration and embodies a proactive and comprehensive approach to safeguarding children in the digital environment.
The resolution mandates that all social media platforms allowing user-created accounts or profiles, social interactions, content sharing, or algorithm-based content recommendations-whether free or paid-adhere to its provisions. This applies to platforms available within the UAE or targeting users in the country.
Setting a minimum age of 15 years for social media use, the resolution prohibits children under this age from creating or operating personal accounts, accessing full platform features, or engaging in various online interactions. Platforms are required to implement technical and administrative measures to enforce these prohibitions, promoting healthier digital habits in alignment with different age groups.
For children aged 15 to 16, social media use is permitted but subject to enhanced protective measures. These include age-appropriate content restrictions, disabling high-risk features, regulating usage time, and providing parental control tools to ensure a safe digital environment.
Parental consent is not considered a valid exemption from the resolution's prohibitions or restrictions. However, caregivers may configure the settings of accounts for children between 15 and 16 years, using the provided parental control tools, without contravening the established prohibitions.
Platforms must implement effective age verification mechanisms, such as digital identity verification or AI-supported technologies, approved by the Child Digital Safety Council. Self-declaration of age is not acceptable, and platforms must ensure high accuracy in determining user age while protecting child privacy and personal data.
Age verification mechanisms are subject to regular reviews and audits, and platforms must provide users with clear operational information to foster trust and transparency.
Social media platforms in the UAE must monitor and take immediate action against accounts created by children under 15 in violation of the resolution. They must also prevent system circumvention, avoid targeting children with personalized advertising, and refrain from exploiting or processing their personal data for commercial purposes.
Platforms are required to provide parental control tools and awareness materials, conduct periodic child digital safety risk assessments, and submit regular reports to the competent authorities. This positions platforms as strategic partners in child protection.
The resolution outlines the responsibilities of child caregivers, including refraining from enabling children to use platforms in violation of its provisions and promoting digital safety awareness.
Oversight of platform compliance is assigned to the National Media Authority and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, with the authority to take necessary actions in case of non-compliance, including warnings, blocking, or penalties.
The Child Digital Safety Council is tasked with assessing risks and impacts, proposing necessary measures, and ensuring the resolution's effective implementation in coordination with relevant authorities.
Social media platforms are given a 12-month transitional period to comply with the resolution, ensuring technical and regulatory readiness through communication and coordination with authorities.
Aligned with global trends in digital child protection, this resolution establishes a forward-looking model that combines digital safety, family empowerment, platform responsibility, and practical enforceability. It underscores the UAE's commitment to a safe and sustainable digital society and reinforces its position as a global leader in child protection and digital safety.
