This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Meta (NASDAQ:META), Snap (NYSE:SNAP), YouTube owner Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Reddit (NYSE:RDDT) are facing a new social media rule in the UAE, where children under 15 will no longer be allowed to use social media accounts.
The rule is pretty direct. Kids under 15 cannot create accounts, post, comment, share content or join public groups. Teens aged 15 and 16 can still use social media, but platforms will need stronger safety tools, including parental controls, screen-time limits and restrictions on contact from unknown users.
The bigger change is verification. Platforms will no longer be able to rely on users simply typing in their age. The UAE wants stronger checks, including digital ID and AI-based tools. Companies will also have to shut down under-15 accounts and stop using children’s data for targeted ads or behavioral profiling.
this is another sign that governments are getting tougher on social media and child safety. The UAE is giving platforms up to 12 months to comply, but the bigger question is whether other countries follow with similar rules
————————————————
