An official representative of the National Media Authority (NMA) stated that the proposed restrictions, which prohibit children under 15 from independently creating social media accounts, are unlikely to have a significant impact on the rapidly growing content creator economy in the UAE.
UAE Authorities' Stance
Authorities believe these measures can promote safer participation in digital platforms with parental supervision while supporting the long-term development of the sector. Mohammed Al Zarouni, Director of Strategic Planning at NMA, told Khaleej Times that the law is primarily aimed at preventing the exploitation of children under 15.
He expressed his view that the changes would be positive because 'more young people can start using social media under the supervision of their parents.'
Alignment with International Standards
The proposed legislation is part of broader efforts to enhance child safety online and aligns with similar initiatives being implemented in countries such as Australia and certain European regions. Al Zarouni emphasized that the UAE is working to ensure its rules comply with international standards while considering feedback from parents and relevant bodies.
Role of Regulators and Digital Economy
These statements were made at the TikTok UAE Forward event, attended by senior company executives in the region, as well as representatives from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and the UAE government's Media Office. Mohammed Al Zarouni, Deputy General Manager of the Information and Digital Government Sector at TDRA, separately noted that the government's goal is to strike a balance between regulation and the further expansion of digital platforms.
He stated that there are legislative requirements that must be met and considers this the 'first line of defense.' He added that their task is to complement the growth occurring on digital platforms by ensuring mutual understanding between the government's need for societal safety and entrepreneurs using these platforms, while also helping to promote the growth of the platforms themselves.
Al Zarouni also noted that supporting reliable digital platforms will ultimately contribute to achieving the UAE's broader ambitions in the digital economy. According to a report presented at the event, TikTok contributed 1.1 billion AED in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UAE economy and supported approximately 7,000 jobs. Furthermore, it was found that over 70,000 small and medium-sized enterprises actively advertise on TikTok in the UAE, and more than 10,000 entrepreneurs, including 3,500 women and 1,400 Emiratis, reported starting their businesses through this platform.
