Age Limit and New Regulations Introduced for Social Media Use in Turkey
A new regulation published in the Official Gazette bans social media use for those under 15, while imposing comprehensive restrictions and a mandatory age verification via e-Devlet for the 15-17 age group.
Prepared by the Presidential Cyber Security Presidency and published in the Official Gazette dated October 10, 2026, the regulation marks a new era for social media use in Turkey. The regulation, which will come into effect on November 1, 2026, prohibits children under 15 from accessing social networks.
Age Verification and Implementation Process
Social network providers will be required to verify the ages of their users through a token system to be created via the e-Devlet Gateway. For the implementation starting on November 1, 2026, existing account holders have been granted until March 31, 2027.
Restrictions for the 15-17 Age Group
Under the regulation, accounts of users between the ages of 15 and 17 will be kept private by default. Individuals in this age group will be prevented from hosting live broadcasts and will be exempt from features such as personalized advertisements and content recommendations.
It is aimed to increase the digital safety of children by granting parents broad powers to manage and monitor their children's social media accounts.
Scope and Legal Basis
The regulation prepared by the Presidential Cyber Security Presidency covers all social network providers, both domestic and foreign, that are accessible from Turkey. The regulation establishes a legal framework for the protection of children in digital environments.