{
  "id": 13178216,
  "title": "Why banning children from social media may not be enough to keep them safe online",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/why-banning-children-from-social-media-may-not-be-enough-to-keep-them-13178216",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-09T18:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/10/09/social-media-ban-children-education/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Banning children from social media may not be sufficient to ensure their online safety, according to experts consulted by The National. A comprehensive strategy that includes education on best practices for young people and their parents would be more effective, they say. Several countries have implemented bans on under-18s using social media, with the UAE set to introduce a ban in June 2027. However, the challenge lies in the varying approaches across countries and the limitations of legislation, which often only covers certain apps, games or platforms. This can leave loopholes for inappropriate content, exploitation, or abuse. To address this, parental involvement and schools guiding young people on responsible technology use are still crucial. The UAE's ban, due to take effect after a one-year grace period, will require social media companies to comply with protocols. Despite the UAE's ban, alternative platforms like Lemon8, not initially included in the list, have gained popularity and later been added. The challenge is akin to a \"whack-a-mole\" scenario, with new platforms emerging as soon as one is addressed. Educating parents on the risks associated with young people's online access is a key step in enhancing safety, experts emphasize.",
  "summary": "Barring young people from social media platforms may not be enough to keep them safe unless it forms part of a wider online protection plan, experts have told The National . A co-ordinated strategy that takes into account the need for education on best online practices for young people and their parents would be much more effective in addressing issues around digital safety, the experts said.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Why banning children from social media may not be enough to keep them safe online",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/why-banning-children-from-social-media-may-not-be-enough-to-keep-them",
        "published": "2026-10-09T18:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}