Egypt Follows Australia’s Lead in Restricting Social Media for Minors
In a significant move to shield children from the harms of digital platforms, Egypt is preparing to introduce strict regulations on social media usage for those under the age of 16. The country’s parliament is actively working on a new legal framework that would limit how young people interact with online networks, marking a growing global trend toward tighter controls.
The proposed legislation aims to protect minors from risks such as exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and online exploitation. Lawmakers have stated that the initiative is a direct response to mounting concerns over the negative influence of social media on children’s mental health and behavior. Before finalizing the draft, the government plans to consult with experts and relevant institutions to ensure the rules are both effective and enforceable.
President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi has been a vocal advocate for restricting children’s access to social media. He recently argued that young people should be kept away from these platforms until they reach an age where they can use them responsibly. His stance aligns with similar measures being adopted in other parts of the world.
Learning from Global Precedents
Egypt is drawing inspiration from countries like Australia and the United Kingdom, where governments have already moved to curb underage social media use. A government report from 2024 revealed that nearly 50 percent of Egyptian children under 18 are active on social media, exposing them to a range of dangers. This statistic has fueled the urgency behind the proposed restrictions.
Australia became the first nation to enforce a blanket ban on social media for children under 16, with its Online Safety Amendment Act taking effect in December of the previous year. The law applies to major platforms such as Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Under these rules, companies must implement age verification systems to prevent minors from creating accounts. In response, Meta—the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and Threads—removed over 550,000 teen accounts within a week of the ban’s implementation.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom and France are also tightening their regulations, signaling a broader international shift toward safeguarding young users online. Egypt’s parliament is closely monitoring these developments as it crafts its own approach.
WhatsApp Developing Parental Control Features
In a related development, WhatsApp is working on a new parental control feature designed to give parents more oversight of their children’s activity on the platform. The tool would allow parents to create a secondary account for their child, linked to the parent’s primary account via a QR code. This setup would enable parents to manage security settings directly from their own device.
According to reports, the system will require parents to set a six-digit primary PIN. Any significant changes to the child’s account—such as altering privacy settings or modifying contact lists—would necessitate this PIN. During the initial setup, the parent scans a QR code from the child’s device to establish the connection. Once configured, the child cannot independently adjust settings, leaving full control in the hands of the parent.
This feature reflects a growing emphasis on digital safety tools that empower caregivers without completely isolating young users from online communication. It also highlights how tech companies are adapting to stricter regulatory environments worldwide.
The Broader Implications for Digital Safety
The push for tighter controls in Egypt is part of a larger conversation about the role of social media in children’s lives. Critics argue that while these platforms offer educational and social benefits, they also expose minors to predators, harmful content, and addictive behaviors. Proponents of regulation believe that age-based restrictions are a necessary step to mitigate these risks, even if they require significant adjustments from both tech companies and families.
As Egypt moves forward with its proposed law, it joins a growing list of nations grappling with how to balance digital freedom with child protection. The outcome could set a precedent for other countries in the Middle East and beyond, influencing how governments approach online safety in the years to come.
