The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are engaging in discussions with technology companies about monitoring and potentially restricting social media usage for teenagers.

This initiative aims to regulate access for individuals under the age of 16 or 18, paralleling ongoing discussions in Egypt regarding age restrictions on social media.

Ashraf Koheil, the regional sales director for a prominent technology company, conveyed these sentiments at a conference in Dubai during the launch of Group-IB’s High-Tech Crime Trends Report 2025.

Koheil emphasized the role of artificial intelligence and identity management solutions in developing strategies to monitor and limit social media access for minors.

The conversation arises amid a growing trend in many countries to implement social media restrictions for young users as smartphones become omnipresent and adolescents increasingly engage with online platforms, exposing them to various cyber threats.

In November 2024, Australia enacted a ban on social media access for children under 16, while France and multiple U.S. states have also instituted laws requiring parental consent for minors to access such platforms.

Additionally, the European Union has prohibited technology companies from targeting minors with personalized advertisements and mandated reminders for teenagers to take breaks from social media.

China’s Cybersecurity Law and Minor Protection Law further illustrate global efforts, imposing restrictions on the content accessible to children and establishing daily usage time limits for online services.

The Netherlands has prohibited smart devices, including mobile phones and tablets, in primary and secondary schools to minimize distractions that impede academic performance.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), public schools have instituted a ban on mobile phones to safeguard students' safety and privacy.

A directive from the Ministry of Education last November warned of confiscation for students repeatedly found with phones on school premises.

Private institutions across the UAE either enforce bans or stringent regulations regarding mobile phone usage.

Some senior students are allowed to carry phones, but under strict stipulations, and school networks typically employ filters to restrict access to social media sites.

UAE residents reportedly have an average of more than one social media account, with daily usage nearly three hours across all age groups, according to Global Media Insights.

A significant portion of Instagram's 6.67 million users in the UAE is comprised of teenagers.

Demographically, over 50% of the youth population in the GCC is under 25 years old.

The High-Tech Crime Trends Report 2025 indicated that internet services are the most frequently targeted for phishing attacks in the Middle East and Africa, followed by telecommunications and financial services.

Other sectors, such as professional services and logistics, are also recognizing increasing threats as the region's digital landscape expands.

Dmitry Volkov, CEO and co-founder of Group-IB, highlighted the vulnerabilities in these sectors due to an evolving digital environment.

Craig Jones, former director of cybercrime at Interpol, noted that the UAE is recognized as a leading nation in cybersecurity within the region, citing the effectiveness of its reporting mechanisms for cybercrime victims and the cooperative efforts between government entities.

The UAE’s involvement in international initiatives, including a counter-ransomware strategy, underlines its commitment to combating cyber threats.