Social media ban for under-15s and new regulations announced
With the regulation published in the Official Gazette, social media use by children under 15 has been banned, and age verification has been tied to an e-Government requirement.
Prepared by the Ministry of Family and Social Services and published in the Official Gazette, the new regulation has introduced important restrictions aimed at protecting children on digital platforms and new obligations for social network providers.
Social Media Ban and Age Verification
According to the regulation announced by Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, social network providers will no longer be able to offer services to children under the age of 15. Age verification procedures will be carried out via e-Government.
Restrictions for Youth Between 15 and 18 Years Old
Within the framework of the regulation, the accounts of users in the 15 to 18 age group will automatically be set to private. Follower information will not be visible on these accounts, and live broadcasting features will be restricted.
Technical Measures to Prevent Addiction
Platforms will be prevented from making designs aimed at increasing children's screen time. Children's personal data will strictly not be used in advertising and profiling activities.
Parental Control and Security Measures
Thanks to the new system, parents will be able to control their children's account settings, screen times, and location sharing. Filtering mechanisms against harmful content will be activated.
Deadline Set for Existing Accounts
Minister Göktaş emphasized that the age verification application will also apply to existing accounts. Users will be required to verify their age at least once by March 31, 2027.