New Regulation for Social Media Platforms Published in the Official Gazette
The new regulation aims to protect children in digital environments while imposing strict responsibilities on platforms such as age verification and blocking access.
With the new regulation published in the Official Gazette, mandatory age verification and various obligations for the protection of children have been introduced for social media platforms. The regulation, which will enter into force on November 1, 2026, bans social media use for children under the age of 15.
Effective Date of the Regulation
The social media regulation published in the Official Gazette has clarified the date when the established new rules will be implemented.
According to official statements, this comprehensive regulation targeting the protection of children will enter into force on November 1, 2026.
Bans for Under 15s
Within the scope of the new regulation, children under the age of 15 are banned from using social media platforms.
Relevant internet and social media platforms will be obliged to block access for individuals in this age group and will reject account creation requests.
Status of Existing Accounts
It has become mandatory to complete age verification procedures for existing user accounts by March 31, 2027, at the latest.
Existing accounts found to belong to individuals under the age of 15 as a result of the checks will be completely closed down.
Rules for Young Users
Accounts of children who have turned 15 will be private by default, and various restrictions will be applied to these accounts.
Features such as broadcasting live streams and displaying personalized ads will be banned for users in this age group.
Communication and Privacy Restrictions
Significant restrictions have been introduced on messaging and follower lists to increase the security of young users.
Users will only be able to receive messages from people they follow, and their follower and following lists will be kept private.
Parental Control Tools
Platforms will be required to provide parental control tools to ensure the safety of child users.
Privacy settings, messaging features, and content recommendation systems will also be subject to special rules for users aged 15-18.