Egypt Pushing For Social Media Ban For Children Amid Global Crackdown
Egypt’s parliament is preparing legislation to restrict children’s use of social media, a move that places the North African nation among a growing list of countries seeking to shield minors from what it calls “digital chaos” online.
The push comes directly from President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who on Saturday urged lawmakers to adopt measures restricting access to social platforms “until they reach an age when they can handle it properly”.
Citing examples from Australia and the United Kingdom, the president’s call prompted an immediate response from parliament, which pledged on Sunday to draft a law to “protect Egyptian children from any risks that threaten its thoughts and behaviour”.
This initiative reflects growing alarm over digital exposure. A 2024 government-linked study found that about 50% of Egyptian children under 18 use social media, where they face risks including harmful content, cyberbullying, and abuse.
Egypt’s plans mirror a decisive, and controversial, international policy shift. In December 2025, Australia became the first country to implement a comprehensive ban, prohibiting children under 16 from holding accounts on major platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
The policy, which has led to the deactivation of 4.7 million accounts according to government data, is enforced by imposing massive fines (up to USD 33.2 million) on platforms that fail to take “reasonable steps” to keep underage users out.
Other Western nations are rapidly following. The British government has launched a consultation on a similar under-16 ban. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron is fast-tracking a law to ban social media for those under 15 by September 2026, arguing that “the minds and feelings of our children and adolescents are not for sale” to algorithms. Denmark and Norway are also considering comparable legislation.
A central challenge for any such law is practical enforcement. Australia’s model places the legal onus on companies, banning them from relying on simple self-declaration of age. Instead, platforms must use “reasonable steps” like government ID verification, facial or voice recognition analysis, or “age inference” technology that estimates age based on online behaviour.
These methods have sparked significant debate. Privacy advocates warn of the risks of collecting and storing sensitive biometric data, especially after high-profile breaches in Australia. Technology experts also question effectiveness. A government report found facial assessment technology is “least reliable for teenagers“, and critics point out that determined teens can use virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass geographic blocks or create accounts with fake details.
The proposed bans have ignited global controversy, splitting experts, tech companies, and the public. Major medical authorities, like the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, acknowledge clear evidence that social media can negatively impact youth mental health, disrupting sleep and exposing them to cyberbullying and harmful content. This forms the core justification for the laws.
However, many child safety advocates and academics argue that blunt prohibition is the wrong tool. A coalition of 42 UK organisations, including the NSPCC, warned a ban “would create a false sense of safety,” potentially driving children to less-regulated corners of the internet.
Professor Amy Orben of the University of Cambridge recently told the BBC that there is “not strong evidence” that age-based bans are effective. Tech giants like Meta and YouTube have fiercely opposed the Australian rules, calling them difficult to implement and warning they could deprive young people of positive social connections and push them toward platforms with weaker safety features.
Even within Egypt, the approach is not unanimous. Yasser Arfa, an Egyptian MP, has stated he will propose alternative legislation focused on “regulation, not an absolute ban,” emphasising parental guidance and digital literacy over outright prohibition.
Feature Image Credits: Image: Wolfgang Maria Weber/picture alliance
