Parents in Bahrain are rallying round to make Internet and social media use a safer experience for their children, as the authorities ponder over the best national step to take.
Australia has taken the initial legislative lead by banning 16-year-olds with what appears to be limited success, and the UK has announced its own plan for action next year.
Medical professionals, academicians, parents and teenagers in the kingdom have come forward, expressing an urgent need for supervision and awareness in order to reduce the negative impact of unregulated Internet exposure especially on children.
“From an educational perspective, any measure that improves children’s online safety deserves consideration,” Asian School Bahrain director Lovy Joseph told the GDN.
In January 2026, Bahrain’s Shura Council proposed banning children under the age of 15 from creating social media accounts to combat the growing concern over the risks faced by young users online.
In the latest development, Bahrain’s government has raised objections to the proposal, warning that an outright prohibition could create enforcement difficulties, and raised concerns over privacy and data protection.
In a memorandum submitted alongside draft amendments to the Bahrain’s Child Law, the government said that while protecting children online was increasingly important, a total ban was not necessarily the most effective legal solution.
The government stressed that children today use a wide range of digital services beyond social media, including educational, communication and entertainment platforms, many of which have become part of daily life and modern learning.
Despite its reservations, it said that it fully supports strengthening Bahrain’s legal framework to better protect children from growing online risks, cyberbullying, exploitation and harmful digital content amid rapid technological change.
The issue is expected to be discussed once Parliament reconvenes in October.
The Shura proposal coincided with a global ‘movement’ initiated by Australia, where under-16s were banned from using major services, including TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads.
The move is having mixed results, according to media reports, with high initial compliance overshadowed by widespread workarounds and ongoing youth mental health concerns.
The UK has announced it will enforce a ban from 2027 with age verification checks like facial scanning, government ID or credit card linkage required to access digital platforms. However, messaging services like WhatsApp and children-centric sites like YouTube are exempted from the mix.
Other countries with proposals to tackle the issue include China, Denmark, Greece, France, Italy, India and Malaysia. Closer to home, the neighbouring UAE announced only on Thursday that anyone below 15 could be prohibited from creating, using operating personal accounts on social media platforms, although the resolution remains yet to be ratified by the UAE Cabinet.
Ms Joseph added: “As schools, we witness first-hand the effects of unrestricted social media use, including distraction, cyberbullying, misinformation and impacts on students’ well-being.
“Personally, I believe that more emphasis should be on digital literacy which is an essential life skill that students must learn in order to navigate the online world responsibly,” she added.
“While protecting children from online risks is important, it is equally important to equip them with the judgement and self-discipline to use technology wisely.”
According to the academician and entrepreneur, the greater challenge is ensuring that students develop healthy digital habits.
“At school, we promote digital literacy, online safety and responsible technology use but these lessons must be reinforced at home where students often have greater access to devices and social media platforms, with the focus being not on only restricting access but also on helping children make informed and responsible choices online,” she noted.
Echoing her sentiments, Bahraini mother-of-two Sara Hesari revealed that she and her entrepreneur husband, Khalid Alansari, supervise their children’s social media accounts, while educating them on the ‘dos and don’ts’ online.
“Our daughters’ social media account is supervised by us and we try our best to reduce screen time and encourage a ‘no social media’ rule as much as possible,” added the Muharraq resident.
Al Reem, nine, and Al Maha Alansari, eight, launched a year ago their Instagram profile – @lifebyalreemandalmaha – with the help of their parents, where they share videos with social messages. Since then, they have had a prominent social media presence, with more than 3,000 followers.
Ms Hesari highlighted that while they encourage their children to take a creative lead, they follow a hands-on approach, guiding the young creators about Internet safety and having regular educational discussions with them about connected issues.
Multiple studies indicate that on an average, children under two years old are exposed to at least an hour of screen time each day, with those between the ages of eight to 12 spending five to six hours daily and teenagers scrolling for seven to nine hours a day, all pointing to the deeply ingrained influence that the Internet and social media has on young minds.
These figures often rise during emergencies, like the uncertainty of the recent regional conflict and previously the Covid pandemic, when families tend to spend more time indoors.
Excessive screen time can lead to eye and neck strain, while impacting sleep and overall mental wellbeing. It is also known to increase anxiety, reduce focus and attention span and cause developmental delays.
“Early exposure to fast paced digital content disrupts melatonin release (the sleep hormone), delays sleep onset and increases bedtime resistance. This constant stream of stimulation affects emotional regulation and overall wellbeing long before adolescence,” paediatric sleep consultant Dr Sameea Farooq warned.
The expert advised limiting access in the early years and delaying social media exposure as it helps protect developing brains from patterns that can become harder to reverse later.
“Parents can reduce the impact by setting consistent screen time limits, encouraging device free wind down routines and modelling balanced digital habits from the start,” she added.
Belgian expatriate and Manama Rotary’s Interact Club president Robin Verdeyen believes that while a complete ban could interrupt social life and friendships, considering most children, especially teenagers, communicate through social media, having a certain flexibility to accommodate these concerns will help.
“At a young age, children are easily impacted by trends, influencers and unrealistic standards, and limiting social media can help protect our younger generation,” said the 17-year-old St Christopher’s School student.
melissa@gdnmedia.bh
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