Era of 15 Age Limit Begins on Social Media in Turkey

With the new regulation regarding children's social media use in Turkey, a new era is beginning in the access of those under the age of 15 to platforms. Starting November 1, social media services will not be provided to children under 15, while the age verification process for existing accounts will continue until March 31, 2027.

According to Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) data, there are approximately 12 million children in the 6-15 age group in Turkey, and 66.1 percent of these children use social media. While this rate corresponds to approximately 7 million 932 thousand children, it is stated that there are approximately 9 million 852 thousand active accounts belonging to this age group on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X platforms. With the new regulation, it is foreseen to prevent those under 15 from opening new accounts and to implement an age verification system for existing accounts.

It is stated that accounts currently open will not be collectively closed on November 1, and the age verification process for users will last until March 31, 2027. Accounts that do not complete the verification process by this date will be closed. For young people aged 15-18, safety and privacy measures appropriate for their age will be implemented, and parents will be granted monitoring capabilities.

It is important that age verification procedures are performed free of charge exclusively through e-Government (turkiye.gov.tr), and citizens should not turn to third-party sites or share their personal information. The Presidency of Cybersecurity warned against fake SMSs, emails, and internet links that could arise against possible fraud attempts as the regulation approaches.