Details of Social Media Regulation for Children Announced
The social media regulation for children under 15, prepared by the Ministry of Family and Social Services, has been published in the Official Gazette and will enter into force on November 1.
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş stated that children under the age of 15 will not be able to benefit from social network services and shared the details of the new regulation with the public.
Effective Date of the Regulation
The Regulation on the Provision of Differentiated Services Specific to Children by Social Network Providers and Age Verification has been published in the Official Gazette. Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş announced that the process, which became law in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) in May, has reached a new stage with this regulation and that the rules will take effect as of November 1.
Mandatory Age Verification
Within the scope of the regulation, social network providers will be prevented from offering services to children who have not turned 15. Age verification processes will be carriedatively and mandatorily carried out via e-Government without sharing identity information.
Rules for the 15-18 Age Group
Accounts of children between the ages of 15 and 18 will be kept completely private. In these accounts, follower and following information cannot be viewed, live broadcasting will not be permitted, and technical measures to prevent taking screenshots will be implemented.
Limitations Against Addiction
Limitations will be introduced on platform designs that prolong the time children spend on the platform and lead to behavioral addiction. Children's accounts cannot be customized based on their behavior, and their personal data cannot be used in commercial advertising and profiling activities.
Parental Control and Sanctions
Platforms will be held obliged to implement filtering and protective recommendation system settings against harmful content. Parents will be able to monitor account settings, paid transactions, screen time, and location sharing.
Process for Existing Accounts
All existing user accounts will undergo age verification. Minister Göktaş stated that it is mandatory for existing accounts to undergo age verification at least once by March 31, 2027.