Abu dhabi: The United Arab Emirates announced today a ban on children under the age of 15 creating, using, or operating personal accounts on social media platforms.

According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the move makes the UAE the first Arab country to adopt such a measure, following similar steps in Western countries including Australia, Britain, and Canada.

The decision, issued by the UAE Cabinet and carried by the state news agency WAM, states that children below the specified age are prohibited from opening or using personal social media accounts.