Age verification and new restrictions introduced for child users on social media
With the regulation published in the Official Gazette, age verification has become mandatory on social media platforms, while the closure schedule for accounts under 15 and strict security rules for the 15-17 age group have been announced.
Within the framework of the regulation prepared by the Presidency's Directorate of Cybersecurity and published in the Official Gazette, a secure age verification process has officially started on social media networks with e-Government integration.
Regulation Implementation Schedule
The Regulation on the Provision of Differentiated Services Specific to Children by Social Network Providers and Age Verification will fully enter into force on November 1, 2026, for infrastructure preparations.
The deadline granted for existing users to verify their age has been set as March 31, 2027.
e-Government Integrated Age Verification
Secure age verification will be carried out via the e-Government Gateway during platform logins.
The age verification token to be generated will show whether the user has passed the 15 and 18 age thresholds, but this token will not contain identity information or usernames.
Restrictions for Those Under 15
Children under the age of 15 will be prevented from benefiting from social network services, and new account opening requests will be rejected.
Existing accounts will be closed if they are not verified by March 31, 2027, or if it is determined that they belong to someone under 15.
Security Measures for the 15-17 Age Group
Users who have completed the age of 15 but are under 18 will transition to the scope of differentiated services.
For this age group, a live streaming ban, infinite scrolling restriction, private accounts by default, and a ban on personalized commercial advertising will be applied.
Parental Control Panels
Social network providers will be required to offer control panels where parents can monitor usage times.
Through these panels, parents will be able to set spending limits and approve paid transactions.
Sanctions and Other Measures
Sanctions may be applied under Law No. 5651 to social network providers that do not comply with the provisions in the regulation.
In addition, it has been stated that technical measures will be taken to prevent taking screenshots of children's profile photos or shares.