Post by Fast Company Middle East

The UAE is introducing new restrictions on youth access to social media, becoming the latest country to tighten regulations around children’s online activity. A new Cabinet resolution will prohibit children under the age of 15 from creating or using personal social media accounts, marking a significant shift in the country’s approach to digital safety. Social media companies operating in the UAE will have up to 12 months to gradually implement the new requirements in coordination with government authorities. The policy arrives amid growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health, academic performance, and overall development. While children under 15 will be barred from accessing social media platforms, the new framework creates a separate category for teenagers aged 15 and 16. Under the rules, users in that age group will be allowed access to social media services, but with enhanced safeguards built into their accounts. These protections include age-appropriate content controls, restrictions on potentially harmful material, and limits on interactions with unknown users. Platforms will also be expected to introduce tools that regulate screen time and usage duration, while expanding parental-control features designed to give families greater oversight of online activity. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g4NCsJkJ