GCC countries are engaging in discussions with tech companies to regulate teenagers' social media usage, considering restrictions for users under 16 or 18. Meta’s regional sales director, Ashraf Kohail, highlighted this ongoing debate at a Dubai conference, drawing parallels to similar discussions in Egypt. Speaking at the launch of Group-IB's High-Tech Crime Trends Report 2025, he emphasized the role of artificial intelligence and identity management solutions in monitoring and controlling teenagers' access to social media. The move aligns with global trends, as countries like Australia, France, and certain US states have already imposed restrictions on minors' social media usage without parental consent.
In the UAE, measures to limit screen time among young people extend to schools, where mobile phones are banned in public institutions and heavily restricted in private ones. The Ministry of Education has enforced strict policies, warning that repeated violations could lead to month-long confiscation of devices. Meanwhile, data from Global Media Insights reveals that UAE residents spend an average of three hours daily on social media, with a significant portion of Instagram’s 6.67 million users being teenagers. As concerns grow over excessive screen time, GCC governments continue to explore regulatory frameworks to safeguard youth online.
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