Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
The UAE recently became the first Arab country to set 15 as the minimum age for social media use. Under the new Cabinet resolution No. (106) of 2026 in the UAE, social media companies have up to 12 months to implement the new rules, including robust age verification measures.
The government said the decision aims to protect children from inappropriate content, unsafe online interactions, excessive use and misuse of personal data.
For parents, psychologists say the success of the policy will depend not only on the law itself, but on how parents help children navigate the transition at home.
Helping Children Make Sense of it
Dr Rita Figueiredo, CDA Licensed Psychologist and Managing Director at Peninsula Psychology, said parents should treat the restriction as an ongoing conversation rather than a one-time announcement.
She said children are more likely to accept the change when they feel heard, even if the final decision does not change.
"Parents should expect questions, disappointment, and disagreement, because allowing space for those reactions strengthens trust and keeps communication open," Figueiredo told Aletihad.
"When children become upset, it is important to acknowledge their feelings directly. Parents can say things like, 'I can see you are disappointed', this helps children feel understood and can reduce the intensity of their reaction. At the same time, parents should stay consistent about the boundary."
She indicated that parents do not need to convince children that they will like or agree with the restriction, "their role is to help children make sense of it".
Instead of focusing only on the restriction, parents should ask what social media means to their child, whether it fulfils a need for friendship, entertainment, belonging or identity, and use those conversations to understand what children fear losing, she explained.
"The conversation can be an opportunity to reinforce the family's approach to technology more broadly," she said, adding that discussions should centre on balance, relationships, wellbeing and the family's values rather than simply enforcing rules."
Dr Figueiredo added that children often take emotional cues from adults, so parents who remain composed are more likely to reduce conflict. She encouraged parents to acknowledge children's disappointment while maintaining clear boundaries, allowing difficult conversations to continue once emotions have settled.
Shrav Shankar, CDA Licensed Psychologist, echoed that approach, saying parents should expect disappointment and resistance, particularly among teenagers who have built friendships and identities online.
She said children should be given space to express their concerns during the transition period, allowing parents to better understand their emotional connection to social media and identify suitable alternatives.
"Parents also need to spend time with their children to help them better recognise when their feelings of distress show up, why they show up, and how to manage them," Shakar added, noting that strong reactions often stem from fear, sadness, anger or the sense of losing an important social connection.
Shankar said age-appropriate conversations about online safety, mental health and the broader risks associated with social media can help children understand that the restrictions are intended to protect them rather than blame them.
Shared Family Routines
Rather than simply removing social media, both psychologists recommend replacing it with meaningful alternatives.
Dr Figueiredo encouraged families to create more opportunities for face-to-face friendships, hobbies and shared family routines such as outdoor activities, reading together or device-free meals, saying these experiences naturally reduce children's dependence on screens.
Shankar said parents can gradually reduce screen time over the coming months while helping children recognise and manage those emotions through healthy coping strategies.
She agreed that alternative activities should reflect each child's interests and include opportunities to build friendships both offline and, where appropriate, on age-suitable online platforms.
"By planning ahead, proactive and consistent actions can make this period of time easier on children and the family as a whole," Shankar explained.
Dr Figueiredo also pointed out that parents should avoid relying exclusively on fear-based messages, as they can increase anxiety without improving understanding or decision-making.
"The aim is to help children develop the judgement and critical thinking they will eventually need to engage with technology in a healthy and responsible way," she said.
