UAE Clarifies Rules for Child Influencers Under New Social Media Law
The UAE’s recent Cabinet Resolution, which sets a minimum age of 15 for operating personal social media accounts, has sparked questions regarding the future of young digital creators. Officials have clarified that the law is not intended to stifle creativity or end the careers of child influencers. Instead, the mandate focuses on preventing children under 15 from owning or independently managing their own profiles. As long as content is hosted on an account fully owned and supervised by a parent or guardian, young creators can continue to share their work, provided the material remains positive and beneficial.
For families navigating this shift, the key requirement is a change in operational structure rather than a complete halt to content creation. Parents must take full control of account management, ensuring that children do not have independent access to platforms or the ability to interact with audiences on their own. While the law grants a 12-month transition period for compliance, it makes it clear that parental consent does not bypass the age requirement. Ultimately, the UAE government emphasizes that this regulation is a protective measure designed to foster a safer digital environment, ensuring that children can still benefit from technology while remaining shielded from the risks associated with unsupervised online activity.