Social Media Ban Imposed for Under-15s in Turkey
Prepared to protect children in digital environments and published in the Official Gazette, the regulation bans social media use for children under the age of 15.
A new social media regulation aimed at protecting children in the digital world has been published in the Official Gazette in Turkey. Within the scope of the regulation, which will enter into force on November 1, 2026, social media use is banned for children under 15, while various security and privacy restrictions are introduced for teenagers between 15 and 18.
Publication of the Regulation in the Official Gazette
The new regulation prepared for the protection of children in digital environments has gained official status by being published in the Official Gazette. The regulation envisages fundamental changes in the terms of use of all domestic and foreign social media platforms.
Ban for Children Under 15
According to the new regulation, the use of social media by children who have not reached the age of 15 will be completely banned, and new account opening requests will be strictly rejected. Platforms have been granted until March 31, 2027, to close existing accounts and delete data.
Age Verification via e-Government
Within the scope of the application, age verification will be carried out through a special tool to be created on the e-Government Gateway. Thanks to this service to be provided by the Cyber Security Presidency, only the information on whether age limits are exceeded will be transmitted to the platforms without providing personal data.
Restrictions for Young People Between 15 and 18
A segregated network service will be provided for users who have completed the age of 15 but have not turned 18. Within this scope, accounts will be private by default, live broadcasts will not be allowed, and personalized or behavioral ads will not be displayed.
Parental Controls and Sanctions
The regulation grants parents broad powers such as limiting their children's social media usage time and setting spending limits. Various sanctions will be applied to social media platforms that fail to comply with the rules within the scope of Law No. 5651.