Page 54 - MOET PR REPORT FEB 2026
P. 54
2/18/26, 12:43 PM UAE Considers Phased Rules To Protect Children On Social Media
To address these challenges, families will receive practical tools for guidance
and supervision to promote healthy digital habits and responsible technology
use.
Child development and mental health experts will offer guidance and support.
Public awareness campaigns will also encourage responsible use of digital
technology. According to the Council, different government sectors, including
education, health, security, and media, will work together to make these plans
effective.
Education policies and school programmes are being unified under a national
framework. Standardised tests, including Arabic language assessments, will
help identify children who need extra support early. Updates to Arabic language
and Islamic studies programmes will strengthen basic skills and reflect national
values and identity.
In December 2025, the UAE Government issued a law on child digital safety,
aimed at protecting from harmful digital content and practices that negatively
affect their physical, psychological, and moral well-being.
The law applies to internet service providers and digital platforms, whether
operating within the UAE or targeting users within the UAE. Digital platforms
covered by the law include: websites, search engines, smart applications,
messaging applications, forums, online gaming platforms, social media
platforms, live streaming platforms, podcast platforms, streaming services,
online video-on-demand platforms, and e-commerce platforms.
Rather than stepping in after harm occurs, the UAE's Child Digital Safety Law
is designed to intervene much earlier - reshaping how platforms are built, how
content is filtered, and how children are treated online based on their age. The
shift is less about punishment and more about prevention, placing responsibility
on systems rather than on children or parents.
https://menafn.com/1110744475/UAE-Considers-Phased-Rules-To-Protect-Children-On-Social-Media 3/4
