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UAE sets minimum social media age at 15, mandates age checks

Anthony Albanese

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Aaron Mackey

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Timothy Koskie

"They took the easy option, and it will fail."

“New accounts are being created and the age-verification tools that the government assured Australians would be effective, have proven laughably easy to bypass with some makeup and good lighting.”

“Tech-savvy teens simply use VPNs, fake birth photos for face scans, or migrate to less regulated platforms like Lemon8, or to platforms not part of the ban like video games. Enforcement is proving to be difficult in the days leading up to the ban.”

"Some verification methods are often inaccurate while others are easily circumvented.”

"Technological workarounds – such as VPNs and false age declarations – may undermine the effectiveness of the ban."

"This law will also push many users toward platforms that are more personal and private, like Telegram channels, WhatsApp Communities, and Signal Groups, which are not currently banned because they are important tools for encrypted and direct communication."

David Inserra

“Ultimately, reducing online harm would be a great outcome; however, we know from evidence that ‘banning’ anything from young people won’t work on its own.”

Louise La Sala

“There’s a fair amount of teething problems around it. Many young people have been posting on TikTok that they successfully evaded the age limitations and that’s to be expected.”

"I think it will help a lot of parents because it's not them saying no, it's an actual law."

Cassie Xintavelonis

“We don’t expect safety laws to eliminate every single breach. If we did, speed limits would have failed because people speed, drinking limits would have failed because, believe it or not, some kids do get access to alcohol.”

“The fact that teenagers occasionally find a way to have a drink doesn’t diminish the value of having a clear national standard.”

"Just as the banning of phones in school classrooms by many state governments hasn't on day one led to perfect compliance, now it's just accepted that there are improved educational outcomes, improved behaviour, improved social outcomes as a result."

"Australia's social media ban is already driving change, and is proof that the threat of regulation works, even before the law takes effect. Waiting for perfect policy risks paralysis when real progress is already within reach.”

Will Australia's Under 16 Social Media Ban be Effective?

The UAE Cabinet approved a resolution on June 18, 2026, setting 15 as the minimum age for social media use, making the UAE the first Arab nation to introduce such a restriction. Children under 15 are barred from creating, using or operating personal accounts on any social media platform.

The UAE Cabinet approved a resolution on June 18, 2026, setting 15 as the minimum age for social media use, making the UAE the first Arab nation to introduce such a restriction. Children under 15 are barred from creating, using or operating personal accounts on any social media platform.

Under the resolution, platforms have a 12-month transitional period to comply, during which they must remove accounts belonging to under-15s and implement robust age-verification systems. Self-declaration of age will not be accepted as valid verification.

Under the resolution, platforms have a 12-month transitional period to comply, during which they must remove accounts belonging to under-15s and implement robust age-verification systems. Self-declaration of age will not be accepted as valid verification.

Teenagers aged 15 and 16 may access social media under enhanced safeguards, including age-appropriate content controls, screen-time limits, restrictions on interaction with unknown users and parental supervision tools. Parental consent does not exempt children under 15 from the ban.

Emirates 24

Teenagers aged 15 and 16 may access social media under enhanced safeguards, including age-appropriate content controls, screen-time limits, restrictions on interaction with unknown users and parental supervision tools. Parental consent does not exempt children under 15 from the ban.

Regulators, including the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, are empowered to warn, partially or fully block platforms, or impose administrative penalties for non-compliance. Platforms must also refrain from using children's data for targeted advertising or behavioral profiling.

Regulators, including the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, are empowered to warn, partially or fully block platforms, or impose administrative penalties for non-compliance. Platforms must also refrain from using children's data for targeted advertising or behavioral profiling.

The UAE's move follows similar restrictions introduced by Australia, which enacted the world's first nationwide social media ban for under-16s in December 2025, as well as measures in Indonesia, Malaysia, the UK and several European countries. Canada introduced legislation to ban under-16s from social media accounts around the same period.

The UAE's move follows similar restrictions introduced by Australia, which enacted the world's first nationwide social media ban for under-16s in December 2025, as well as measures in Indonesia, Malaysia, the UK and several European countries. Canada introduced legislation to ban under-16s from social media accounts around the same period.

UAE medical professionals have reported rising rates of anxiety, sleep disruption, reduced attention spans and declining academic performance among children linked to excessive social media use. Experts stress that age restrictions should be combined with digital literacy education and parental involvement to be effective.

UAE medical professionals have reported rising rates of anxiety, sleep disruption, reduced attention spans and declining academic performance among children linked to excessive social media use. Experts stress that age restrictions should be combined with digital literacy education and parental involvement to be effective.

UAE Bans Under-15s From Social Media

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UAE Bans Under-15s From Social Media

UAE setsBans minimumUnder-15s socialFrom mediaSocial age at 15, mandates age checksMedia

The Controversies

Australia

McIntosh

Orlando

Mackey

Commission

Inserra

Sala

Flew

Xintavelonis

Grant

Albanese

Albanese

Koskie

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