Social Media Ban for Under-15s Published in the Official Gazette
With the new regulation by the Presidency's Cybersecurity Directorate, social media is banned for those under 15, and age verification will begin via e-Government.
The new social media regulation prepared by the Presidency's Cybersecurity Directorate has been published in the Official Gazette, initiating its enforcement process. According to the regulation, children under the age of 15 are completely banned from receiving services from social network providers, and age verification will be carried out through the e-Government Gateway.
Decision Published in the Official Gazette
The Regulation on the Provision of Segregated Services Specific to Children and Age Verification by Social Network Providers, prepared by the Presidency's Cybersecurity Directorate, has been published in the Official Gazette. With the new regulation, significant restrictions and rules regarding social media use have been introduced.
Social Media Ban for Under 15s
In accordance with the provisions of the published regulation, children under the age of 15 are completely banned from benefiting from social media services. Platforms will not approve account opening requests or provide services to children in this age group.
Age Verification via e-Government
The age determination process for users will be carried out through special age verification tokens generated via the e-Government Gateway. This token will show the social network provider only whether the age limit has been reached, without revealing identity information.
Exception for Foreign Citizens
An exceptional token mechanism working through passport information will be activated for foreign nationals temporarily residing in Turkey. Thus, the age verification processes for foreign users will also be carried out within the framework of the regulation.
Restrictions for Ages 15 to 18
A segregated service model will be applied for children between the ages of fifteen and eighteen, and accounts will be kept private by default. Features such as live broadcasting, algorithmic infinite scrolling, personalized advertising, taking screenshots, and contact synchronization will be blocked for this age group.
Parental Control Tools
Social network providers will offer parents control tools that allow them to monitor their children's screen time, spending, and account settings. Young users will only be able to receive messages from accounts they follow.
Enforcement and Schedule
The prepared regulation will officially enter into force on November 1, 2026. Existing accounts are required to complete age verification with the e-Government token by March 31, 2027.
Sanctions and Obligations
Administrative and technical sanctions within the scope of Law No. 5651 will be applied to platforms that fail to fulfill the designated obligations and do not comply with the regulations. Platforms will also be obliged to establish Turkish-language application mechanisms against age verification decisions.