The Shoura Council in Saudi Arabia has reached out to the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) to introduce restrictions on social media usage for children under the age of 16.
This restriction is to mainly be implemented through age verification requirements and is part of recommendations to make digital governance stronger in the country.
The call for restrictions came in during the council’s latest session. Members reviewed the annual report of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission for the fiscal year of 2025 and took into consideration remarks and observations from the Transport, Communications and Information Technology Committee.
While no official restrictions have been implemented to date, authorities in Saudi Arabia are mulling over the benefits and consequences of such a move. It’s important to know that if such a restriction is indeed brought in, kids on the threshold of turning 16 and those below 16, will not be able to access social media platforms like Instagram and X. They would most likely also not be able to create accounts or post and view content.
The call comes shortly after the UAE also banned social media usage for kids under 15, with parental consent no longer being considered an exemption.
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