Calling for Age Verification: Saudi Arabia’s Push for Safer Social Media
The digital landscape is undergoing a transformative shift in recent years, as several governments around the world have raised growing concerns about the impact of social media on children.
Decision makers worldwide have been rethinking how young people access and use digital platforms.
Saudi Arabia Joins the Conversation
The Saudi Shoura Council has urged the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) to develop age verification rules and usage restrictions for social media users under the age of 16. This call underscores the Kingdom’s deepening commitment to providing a safer digital sphere for children while aligning with global efforts to boost protections across the virtual landscape.
A Global Shift Toward Safer Social Media
Saudi Arabia is not alone in focusing on how young people engage with social media.
What began as a debate over screen time has significantly expanded into a sweeping conversation about digital safety, age‑appropriate content, privacy, and overall wellbeing. This debate reflects a worldwide shift toward safeguarding the next generation in an era where digitalization commands center stage.
In the UAE, policymakers have taken a decisive step by approving legislation that bars children under 15 from creating personal social media accounts or having access to the platforms’ full suite of features. Minores were also prohibited from posting content, commenting, sharing material, or joining public groups. Even parental consent cannot override the rules, signaling the UAE’s determination to draw firm boundaries around children’s digital participation.
Age Verification Dilemma
Calling for age verification may sound simple in theory, but in practice it poses real challenges.
For years, digital platforms have relied on users to enter their birth dates during account creation. However, this approach has proven easy to bypass, raising questions about its effectiveness. The challenge, therefore, is to find stronger verification tools that effectively foster compliance while protecting user privacy and avoiding unnecessary barriers to access.
Saudi Arabia’s Digital Vision
The Saudi Shoura Council’s recommendations go far beyond social media. It urged CST to unlock the new horizons of government‑owned fiber‑optic networks, tapping into the unused capacity to strengthen telecommunications and broaden internet services across the Kingdom.
These recommendations crystallize Saudi Arabia’s broader effort to fortify its digital infrastructure while making responsible governance a guideline principle of technological progress. As digital services expand dramatically, policymakers are shifting their attention beyond improving connectivity to boosting the quality of online experiences particularly for children. However, this focus should not be limited to expanding access, but it should include shaping a safer and inclusive digital environment.
By taking this approach, Saudi Arabia’s digital agenda seeks to strike a balance between innovation and accountability, charting a future where technological progress and protection user advance in tandem.
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