Age Limit and Verification Rules for Social Media Published in the Official Gazette
With the new regulation prepared by the Presidency Cyber Security Directorate, procedures regarding age limits on social networks, e-Government verification, and the protection of children have been established.
Under the Presidency Cyber Security Directorate regulation published in the Official Gazette, it has been decided that social media platforms will not provide services to children under the age of 15, and rules regarding age verification processes have been clarified.
Scope and Basic Principles of the Regulation
The procedures and principles regarding age verification for accessing services offered by social network providers, providing segregated services tailored for children who have completed the age of 15, and parental control tools have been determined through the regulation prepared by the Presidency Cyber Security Directorate.
15-Year Age Limit and Children's Accounts
According to the regulation, social network providers will not be able to offer services to children who have not completed the age of 15. The provider will take measures while offering segregated services to children who have completed the age of 15, taking into account the child's best interests and developmental needs.
Age Verification via e-Government
Social network providers will verify the user's age status during account creation through the e-Government Gateway using an age verification token. Account opening requests of children found not to have completed the age of 15 will not be approved.
Protection of Personal Data and Privacy
Methods that allow only the determination of the age threshold instead of identification will be used in age verification processes. High-level privacy settings will be applied by default for children's accounts over the age of 15, and these accounts will be private.
Parental Controls and Transition Period
Social network providers are mandated to offer parental control tools. With the regulation entering into force on November 1, age verification procedures for existing accounts must be completed by March 31, 2027.