Egypt has set strict new limits on how children use social media. The rules stop anyone under the age of 13 from holding their own account. Teens aged 13 to under 15 may have an account. Their profile must run in a safe mode at all times. They cannot switch that mode off by themselves.
The decision came from two state bodies working together. One is the Supreme Council for Media Regulation. The other is the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. Both signed a joint order that binds every major platform. The order was published this week.
Officials say the goal is to protect the young from real harm. They point to bullying, harmful content and contact with strangers. They also point to the mental strain that heavy use can bring. Under 13s are treated as the group most at risk. They are placed in the tightest bracket of all.
Platforms now face a clear list of duties. They must build age checks that actually work. They must block users who try to lie about their age. They must review accounts they already hold. Any profile that seems to belong to a child under 15 must be dealt with at once.
The order also protects privacy. Firms can only collect the data they truly need for an age check. They must follow Egypt’s data protection law. They cannot store extra details just because they are handy. Officials stressed this point when the rules were shared.
Mistakes will happen, and the state has planned for that. Every platform must offer a simple appeals route. An adult wrongly flagged as a child can ask for a fix. Parents can do the same for a teen. The process must be quick and easy to find.
The clock is already running for tech firms. They have three months to comply in full. They must also hand in a written plan within 30 days of notice. That plan has to show how each step will be met. Firms that fall short could face action from the regulators.
Mohamed Shamrukh, chief of the telecoms authority, set out the thinking. He said the rules rest on an idea of age based and risk based protection. Younger users get the strongest shield. Older teens get a lighter one. The level of care rises with the level of risk.
Officials framed the move as part of a wider push from the top. President Abdel Fattah el Sisi has asked for a safer online space for the young. The new order is one answer to that call. More steps on digital safety are expected. Schools may also get fresh guidance.
Egypt is not alone in this shift. Several countries have moved in the same direction this year. The European Union has floated a similar age line. Australia has already brought in an age limit. Others are still weighing what to do.
Parents in Cairo have given a mixed reply. Many welcome the extra help. Some say the rules match what they already do at home. Others doubt the checks will work. Children often find ways around a block.
That worry is fair, say experts. Age checks are hard to get right. A date of birth typed into a box proves very little. Stronger checks can mean handing over an identity card. That raises new questions about privacy and data.
The rules also place a load on parents. Officials have said the state cannot do this work alone. Families are asked to talk with children about what they see online. Schools are expected to help. Awareness drives are planned to explain the changes.
Big platforms have not yet given a full public response. Most operate in Egypt through local offices or partners. They will need to adapt tools they already use in other markets. Some already offer teen accounts with limits. The task now is to make those settings fixed and hard to bypass.
The real test will come in the new year. By then the three month window will have closed. Regulators will check whether firms have done the work. Parents will judge the change by what they see on their children’s phones. For now, Egypt has drawn a firm line.
