New rules require platforms to verify users’ ages and limit data collection, as global push to regulate children’s social media use gathers pace
Egypt has introduced new regulations restricting children’s access to social media, banning independent personal accounts for anyone under the age of 13 and imposing automatic safety restrictions on users aged 13 to 15.
The measures were adopted jointly by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Egyptian media reported, and were introduced on the instructions of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as part of efforts to protect children and young people from the risks and potential abuse associated with social media platforms.
Under the new rules, platforms will be barred from creating, activating or making available independent personal accounts for children under 13. Users aged 13 to 15 will be able to create accounts, but doing so will automatically and mandatorily trigger a “Safe Mode” designed to limit their exposure to risk.
Platforms will also be required to take steps to verify users’ ages, prevent attempts to circumvent the age limits, and keep the personal data collected during age verification to a minimum.
Egyptian authorities have given social media platforms three months to implement the new requirements, and have asked them to submit an implementation plan covering technical and operational measures within 30 days of being notified of the decision.
The move comes amid a broader global push to strengthen protections for children online. Around 20 countries worldwide have introduced or announced plans to introduce regulations restricting children’s access to social media in recent months. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday 16 September that the EU was planning to ban social media use for children under 13 and to allow only limited, supervised access for those up to the age of 15.
