Based on directives from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to all state institutions and society, particularly regarding the protection of children and young people from the risks and misuse of social media, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation and the National Telecom Regulatory Authority issued a joint decision requiring social media platforms to take measures to strengthen the protection of children and young people in the digital environment.
The decision aims to provide a safer digital environment for children and protect them from content and practices that may pose psychological, social, or digital risks, while preserving their right to safe and responsible access to technology.
The decision targets users under the age of 15 and divides them into two age groups. For children under 13, platforms are prohibited from creating, activating, or providing independent personal accounts. For users aged 13 to under 15, platforms may allow accounts but must automatically and mandatorily activate a safe-use mode that cannot be disabled individually by the child.
Platforms are also required to implement effective and proportionate age-verification measures, prevent attempts to circumvent age restrictions, comply with personal data protection principles, and minimize the data collected for verification purposes. Existing accounts must also be reviewed, with appropriate measures taken regarding accounts believed or confirmed to belong to users under 15, while providing a clear mechanism for appeals and correcting age-related errors.
Khaled Abdel Aziz, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, said protecting children and young people in the digital environment is a shared responsibility among the state, families, society, and digital platforms. He emphasized that the measures are not intended to deprive children of technology, but to ensure that they use it safely and responsibly in accordance with their age and ability to deal with digital risks.
Mohamed Shamroukh, CEO of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority, said the authority is working to translate the presidential directives into an applicable technical and regulatory framework that balances child protection with users’ privacy and digital rights.
The decision requires social media platforms to comply with the new requirements within a maximum of three months from the date the decision takes effect. Within 30 days of its publication and notification, platforms must also submit an implementation plan and timeline outlining the technical and operational measures required for compliance.
🖋️ source: The official website of the National Media Authority
