New era for social media in Turkey: Ban for under-15s and e-Government verification

A new social media regulation, prepared to enhance the digital safety of children in Turkey, comes into effect as of November 1, 2026. Within the scope of the regulation, while those under 15 are prohibited from opening social media accounts, all existing users are required to perform age verification via e-Government by March 31, 2027.

In the new system, users will be directed to the e-Government system during registration or in cases of suspicion to receive a digital confirmation code. This process will be carried out without sharing identity information. Accounts that are not verified by the specified date or are determined to belong to individuals under 15 will be permanently closed.

For teenagers between 15 and 18, technical measures such as automatic private accounts, hidden follower lists, a ban on live streaming, and the prevention of screenshots will be implemented on platforms. Additionally, the infinite scroll interface that keeps users glued to the screen will be restricted. Parents will be granted the authority to limit their children's usage time and remotely control account settings.

The Communications Directorate's Center for Combating Disinformation warned users against scammers using the age verification process as a pretext. It was emphasized that official procedures should only be performed via the turkiye.gov.tr address or the e-Government mobile application, and that no bank information or fees will be requested under the guise of verification.