Social Media Ban Regulation for Children Under 15 Begins in Turkey
A new regulation restricting social media use for children under 15 enters into force on November 1. International examples, however, show that bans alone do not yield full results.
A new regulation preventing children under the age of 15 from opening and using social media accounts in Turkey comes into life on November 1, 2026. While the regulation published in the Official Gazette introduces various technical and administrative obligations for social network providers, the effectiveness of similar international practices is also being debated.
Details of the Regulation
Children under the age of 15 will be prevented from opening, using, and managing social media accounts starting November 1, 2026. The related regulation was published in the Official Gazette on October 10.
Legal Process and Measures
Pursuant to Law No. 7578 published on May 1, 2026, social network providers are required not to provide services to children under 15 and to take technical measures such as age verification. For the 15-18 age group, segregated services will be provided.
International Examples
According to the Edam report, although millions of accounts were removed in Australia, which implemented the ban, the vast majority of children continued to access the platforms. In France, the most important article of the relevant legislation was revoked.
Expert Recommendations
The Edam report emphasizes that success depends on how age verification is performed and on error-appeal mechanisms rather than the age threshold itself. A risk-based access regime is advocated instead of an absolute ban.