Details of the regulation starting on November 1 clarified on social media

The new regulation prepared by the Presidency's Cyber Security Presidency, which will enter into force as of November 1, 2026, debunks claims that social media will be banned for all users and introduces rules focused on protecting children rather than adults. Within the framework of amendments to Law No. 7578 and Internet Law No. 5651, it was announced that those under the age of 15 will not be able to access social network providers and age verification will be carried out via e-Government.

Following unfounded claims spreading on social media platforms that everyone's access would be restricted, the limits of the regulation published in the Official Gazette dated October 10, 2026, have been clarified. While adult users' access rights are completely reserved, the new system only covers children who have not completed the age of 15. Social network providers will not be able to offer services to this age group, and age verification will be carried out through a secure digital token to be created via the e-Government Gateway. In order to protect privacy, identity or special personal information will not be given to social media companies, and the system will only transmit verification information confirming whether age limits have been passed.

While the deadline granted for existing accounts to complete age verification has been determined as March 31, 2027, accounts that are not verified by this date or are understood to be under 15 years old will be permanently closed. On the other hand, while the right of young people between the ages of 15 and 18 to use social media is reserved, these accounts will automatically be launched in private mode and messaging features will be restricted. In child accounts in this age group, live broadcasts cannot be opened, personalized advertisements cannot be shown, endless scrolling mechanisms cannot be operated, and contact synchronization barriers will be applied.