Social Media Regulation: Ban for Under-15s and Verification Requirement
Published in the Official Gazette, the regulation bans social media account creation for those under 15. e-Government-based age verification will begin on November 1, 2026.
A new regulation regulating the services offered by social media platforms to children in Turkey has been published in the Official Gazette. Accordingly, children under the age of 15 are prohibited from opening social media accounts, and an age verification requirement has been introduced as of November 1, 2026.
Scope and Dates of the Regulation
The regulation, which reorganizes the services offered by social media platforms to children in Turkey, introduces new rules to prevent users under the age of 15 from opening accounts.
The regulation published in the Official Gazette puts the age verification obligation into effect as of November 1, while granting a period until March 31, 2027, for the control of existing accounts.
Age Verification Process
During the age verification process, a digital token generated via the e-Government Gateway will be used, and identity information will not be directly transferred to the platforms.
After identity verification is completed on the online service of the Presidency of Cybersecurity, the obtained token will be transmitted to the relevant social media platform.
Rules for the 15-18 Age Group
Users in the 15 to 18 age group will be included in a service structure suitable for their age and protected by special rules for children.
In these accounts, personal data will be processed more restrictively and high privacy settings will be enabled by default.
Communication and Security Measures
Children's accounts will not be allowed to be public, and follower lists will only be viewable by the account holder.
Only accounts followed by the child will be able to send messages, and messages will not include read receipts or live broadcasting features.
Parental Control Tools
Parents will be able to monitor the time their children spend on the platforms and set daily usage limits.
Purchasing, renting, and paid subscription transactions will be subject to parental permission or approval, thereby increasing security.
Platforms Within the Scope
The regulation covers all domestic and foreign social network providers accessible from Turkey.
Popular platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube, and Telegram are required to comply with these new rules.