Muscat – The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has opened a public consultation on regulating children’s use of social media platforms, signalling a move towards stronger safeguards for minors in the digital environment amid a growing global debate over the impact of social media on young users.

The authority invited stakeholders, experts, parents and members of the public on Tuesday to comment on a draft regulation aimed at strengthening child protection online and defining the responsibilities of digital platforms, regulators and families.

The consultation, which will run till July 16, comes as governments around the world consider measures ranging from stricter age-verification requirements to outright restrictions on social media access for children.

According to the TRA, the initiative follows a study examining the regulatory, technical and legal aspects of children’s use of social media platforms and a Royal Directive issued on Monday to assess children’s use.

The authority said the proposed regulation seeks to balance child protection with access to digital services and emerging technologies.

Among the key issues under review is whether access to social media platforms should be restricted below a specified age, including the possibility of setting the minimum age at 16. The consultation also seeks public views on allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to use social media under additional safeguards, such as parental consent requirements or enhanced privacy protections.

Another major focus is age verification. The TRA is seeking feedback on whether platforms should be required to verify users’ ages and how such systems can be implemented without compromising privacy or leading to excessive collection of personal data.

The consultation also examines whether stronger age-assurance measures should apply to higher-risk features such as private messaging, live streaming and targeted advertising.

It places significant emphasis on the responsibilities of digital platforms in protecting children from harmful content, unwanted contact and excessive use of social media services.

The authority is also seeking views on restricting or prohibiting targeted advertising directed at children and limiting the use of minors’ personal data for commercial purposes.

In addition to legal and technical considerations, the consultation aims to identify practical challenges that could arise during implementation, including compliance requirements for platforms and the role of parents in supervising children’s online activities.

The TRA said responses received during the consultation period will help shape the final regulatory framework and ensure it reflects international best practices while addressing local needs.

Countries banning use of social media for under 16

Australia

United Kingdom

Indonesia

Malaysia

Countries banning use of social media for under 15

Denmark

Turkey