Social Media Ban Imposed for Under-15s in Turkey
With a new regulation published in the Official Gazette, social media use has been banned for children under the age of 15, and a closure schedule has been set for existing accounts.
Aiming to protect children in digital environments, a new regulation published in the Official Gazette in Turkey has banned the provision of social media services to individuals under the age of 15, while introducing various privacy and security restrictions for teenagers aged 15-18.
New Regulation and Age Limit
According to the regulation published in the Official Gazette, social media platforms will not be able to provide services to children who have not reached the age of 15 and will establish age verification systems.
Closure of Existing Accounts
Within the scope of the regulation, social media platforms are required to complete age verification procedures for existing users by March 31, 2027. Accounts belonging to those under 15 will be closed at the end of this period.
Restrictions for the 15-18 Age Group
Accounts of users who have reached the age of 15 but are under 18 will be kept private by default, and these individuals will not be allowed to broadcast live streams.
Messaging and Advertising Rules
Personalized ads for young users will be blocked, the infinite scroll feature will be removed, and messages can only be received from followed accounts.
Parental Control and Enforcement
Parents will be able to manage account settings and set time limits using control tools. The effective date of the new regulation was announced as November 1, 2026.