15-Year Age Limit for Social Media Being Implemented in Turkey
With a new regulation prepared by the Presidency's Directorate of Cybersecurity, Turkey is introducing a 15-year age limit for social media.
A 15-year age limit is being introduced for social media in Turkey through a new regulation prepared by the Presidency's Directorate of Cybersecurity. According to the regulation taking effect on November 1, social network providers will not be able to offer services to children under the age of 15, and age verification procedures will be conducted via e-Government.
New Regulation and Age Limit
The new regulation, prepared by the Presidency's Directorate of Cybersecurity, aims to safeguard children's presence in the digital world through e-Government-based verification systems. Under the regulation taking effect on November 1, social network providers will not be able to provide services to children who have not completed the age of 15.
Age Verification via e-Government
During the account opening stage, the age status will be checked via an age verification token to be provided through the e-Government Gateway. In this way, platforms will perform age determination securely through official data.
Restrictions for Those Aged 15 and Over
Accounts of young people who have reached the age of 15 will be defined as private accounts by default. These accounts will not be permitted to broadcast live streams or display personalized advertisements.
Parental Control Tools
Along with the regulation, parents will be granted the authority to limit their children's usage time, manage account settings, and approve paid transactions. Thus, digital security will be elevated to the highest level.
Transition Period and Account Closures
After the regulation enters into force on November 1, verification procedures for existing accounts will be completed by March 31, 2027. During this period, accounts determined to belong to children under 15 will be closed.
Global Regulations
Around the world, countries such as Australia, France, Spain, China, the US, and the European Union are enacting laws that impose age limits and severe penalties on social media to protect children from digital risks.