Egypt Introduces New Measures to Protect Children from Social Media Risks
Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) and the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) have introduced joint measures requiring social media platforms to strengthen safeguards for children and adolescents and provide a safer digital environment.
The measures aim to protect users under the age of 15 from harmful content and online risks while preserving their ability to access and use technology safely and responsibly.
Under the new framework, children are divided into two age groups. Social media platforms will not be permitted to create, activate, or provide independent personal accounts for children under 13.
For users aged 13 to under 15, platforms may provide access to personal accounts, provided that Safe Mode is activated automatically and remains mandatory. Children in this age group will not be able to disable the feature independently while they remain within the specified age range.
The new requirements also call on platforms to adopt effective and proportionate age-verification mechanisms to prevent users from bypassing age restrictions. Platforms must also comply with personal data protection principles and minimize the amount of data collected for age-verification purposes.
In addition, existing accounts will be reviewed, with platforms required to take appropriate measures to bring accounts believed or confirmed to belong to users under 15 into compliance. The framework also requires clear mechanisms for users to challenge age-related decisions and correct information in cases of error.
Khaled Abdelaziz, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, said that protecting children and adolescents in the digital environment is a shared responsibility involving the government, families, society, and digital platforms.
He stressed that the measures are not intended to prevent children from accessing technology, but rather to ensure that their use of digital services takes place within a safe and responsible framework appropriate to their age and ability to deal with online risks.
Mohamed Shamroukh, CEO of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority, said the NTRA is working to translate the government’s directives into practical technical and regulatory measures that balance child protection with users’ privacy and digital rights.
He explained that the new framework follows an age- and risk-based approach, with different levels of protection applied according to users’ age groups and the risks associated with their use of digital platforms.
The decision gives social media platforms up to three months from the date it takes effect to comply with the new requirements. Platforms are also required to submit an implementation plan and timeline outlining the technical and operational measures needed for compliance within 30 days of publication and notification of the decision.
The SCMR and NTRA said the measures form part of Egypt’s broader efforts to establish a safer and more responsible digital environment while protecting children’s privacy and digital rights and enabling them to benefit from technology in a safe and balanced manner.