Social media access restricted for under-15s by regulation published in the Official Gazette
By decision of the Presidency of Cybersecurity, access to social networks has been banned for children under 15 years of age, and mandatory age verification via e-Government has been introduced.
The new regulation prepared by the Presidency of Cybersecurity was published in the Official Gazette and entered into force, deciding to block access to social network services for children under the age of 15.
Official Gazette Decision and Effective Date
The new regulation prepared by the Presidency of Cybersecurity was announced by being published in the Official Gazette, and this regulation aimed at protecting children in digital spaces officially enters into force as of November 1, 2026.
Age Limit and e-Government Verification
Under the published regulation, all domestic and foreign social network providers accessed from Turkey will not provide services to children under the age of 15 in any way, and age verification through e-Government will become mandatory.
Rules for Youth Between 15-18 Years of Age
A restricted mode will be applied on digital platforms for children between the ages of fifteen and eighteen, and these accounts will be kept private by default, live streaming features will be restricted, and personalized advertisements will not be permitted.
Deadline for Existing Accounts
Platforms will require their users to perform verification with an e-Government token for existing social media accounts until March 31, 2027, and accounts determined to be under the age of fifteen will be completely closed.
Online Gaming Channels and Additional Measures
The new legal regulation introduced covers not only social media platforms but also online gaming channels, imposing an obligation on gaming providers to offer age ratings and parental control tools.