India, June 18 -- The United Arab Emirates has introduced a landmark regulation setting the minimum age for accessing social media platforms at 15 years, alongside mandatory age verification requirements for all users, officials announced on Thursday.

Under the new policy, children below 15 years will not be allowed to create or operate social media accounts, including posting, commenting, sharing content or joining online groups. The move is aimed at strengthening online child protection and reducing exposure to harmful digital content.

Teenagers aged 15 and 16 will be permitted to use social media but only under strict safeguards, including age-appropriate content filters, restrictions on interaction with unknown users, screen-time co...