BEIRUT - A comprehensive ban on social media for children may fail to address the risks young people face online and could create new threats to privacy, freedom of expression and access to information, according to a new policy paper released in Beirut.
The paper, titled “Protecting Children from Social Media Use: Are Bans Effective?”, was released in September 2026 by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies - Beirut, in partnership with SMEX.
It examines whether social media bans and mandatory age-verification systems provide an evidence-based and proportionate response to online risks facing children.
The paper was discussed at a policy dialogue hosted by the Arab Center in Beirut on September 3, bringing together government officials, lawmakers, child-protection specialists, technology experts, and civil society representatives.
Evidence Does Not Support Blanket Bans
The paper argues that existing research does not support the conclusion that social media is inherently harmful to children or that restricting access alone can address the risks they face.
Children use digital platforms for different purposes, including education, creativity, communication, access to information, and social interaction. The effects of social media depend on factors such as the content children encounter, how they use platforms, their individual vulnerabilities, and their family and social environments.
The paper cites the American Psychological Association, which says social media use is neither inherently beneficial nor harmful to young people.
It also highlights research showing that children and adolescents may respond differently to platform features because of their developmental and psychological characteristics. Features such as recommendation algorithms, infinite scrolling, autoplay and intrusive notifications can influence how young users interact with digital services.
As a result, the paper argues that policymakers should focus not only on who can access platforms, but also on how those platforms are designed.
Age Verification Raises Privacy Concerns
Mandatory age verification is another major concern identified in the paper.
Some verification systems can require users to provide government-issued identification or biometric information to platforms or third-party companies. According to the paper, this creates risks involving data breaches, identity theft, surveillance and the potential misuse or repurposing of personal information.
These risks may be particularly significant in Arab countries where data-protection frameworks and independent regulatory institutions remain limited.
The paper also warns that age restrictions can affect adults as well as children because verification systems may require large numbers of users to disclose personal information. Such systems could also discourage people from accessing lawful information because of concerns about identification and monitoring.
Lebanon Faces Additional Challenges
The paper gives particular attention to Lebanon, where it says the existing legal and institutional environment creates additional challenges for implementing restrictive digital policies.
Lebanon does not currently have a standalone comprehensive privacy law. Existing protections are largely based on legislation including Law 81/2018 on Electronic Transactions and Personal Data, whose implementation remains limited.
The paper argues that introducing mandatory age verification in such an environment could increase privacy and security risks rather than necessarily improving children's safety.
It also points to Lebanon's limited regulatory capacity and the difficulty of imposing direct sanctions on major international technology companies.
Beyond Bans
Instead of blanket restrictions, the policy paper recommends a multi-layered approach involving governments, technology companies, schools, parents and children themselves.
Among its recommendations are stronger privacy and data-protection laws, greater accountability for platforms, child-safety measures built into products from the design stage, digital and media literacy programs, stronger parental support and more effective reporting mechanisms for online abuse.
Platforms, it argues, should be required to provide safer default settings, limit potentially addictive design features, improve transparency around recommendation systems and undergo independent assessments of their impact on children's rights.
The paper also calls for stronger protection against cyberbullying, sexual exploitation and online extortion, alongside accessible reporting systems and support services for victims.
Children Should Have a Voice
The paper emphasizes that children should not be treated solely as individuals requiring protection, but also as rights holders whose views should inform policies affecting their digital lives.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child protects children's rights to freedom of expression, access to information and privacy. The paper therefore argues that restrictions must be lawful, necessary and proportionate to a legitimate objective.
The policy paper concludes that there is no single solution to children's online safety. Rather than treating bans as a quick fix, it calls for policies that build a safer, more transparent and accountable digital environment while preserving children's rights.
At the September 3 policy dialogue, participants similarly called for greater consultation with children and warned that bans could be circumvented through tools such as VPNs.
