Egypt Protects Kids with New Social Media Safety Rules

Egypt is taking a bold stand to protect children in the digital world, launching sweeping new regulations that put young people's safety first on social media platforms.

Starting this week, Egyptian authorities banned children under 13 from creating independent social media accounts. For teens aged 13 to 15, platforms must automatically activate "Safe Mode" with protections that young users cannot disable themselves.

The Supreme Council for Media Regulation and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority issued the joint decree on Thursday. Social media companies now have just 30 days to submit detailed plans showing how they'll comply, and three months to fully implement the changes.

The regulations require platforms to use effective age verification systems and audit existing accounts. Any profile belonging to someone under 15 must be reviewed and adjusted to meet the new standards, though users can appeal if their age was incorrectly identified.

Khaled Abdel Aziz, Chairman of the SCMR, emphasized that the goal isn't to take technology away from young people. Instead, officials want to ensure children can use social media safely and appropriately for their age.

Mohamed Shamroukh, head of the NTRA, explained the framework uses "age and risk proportionate protection." That means different levels of security kick in based on a young person's developmental stage and potential exposure to online dangers.

The Ripple Effect

Egypt's move could inspire other nations grappling with how to protect children online. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi directed officials to create these safeguards, calling digital child safety a shared responsibility between government, families, communities, and tech platforms.

The regulations recognize a modern reality: children will use technology, but they need protection while they learn to navigate it. By requiring platforms to build safety features directly into young accounts, Egypt is shifting responsibility from individual families to the companies that create these digital spaces.

Other countries have struggled to enforce age limits on social media, often leaving verification up to platforms with little oversight. Egypt's approach demands accountability, with mandatory audits and concrete timelines.

Egypt is showing the world that protecting children online doesn't mean blocking them from technology entirely, just making sure the digital world they enter is designed with their safety in mind.