Social Media Ban Regulation Announced for Children Under 15

According to the new regulation announced by the Ministry of Family and Social Services, children under the age of 15 will not be able to open social media accounts or use these platforms.

Main Objective and Rationale of the Regulation

The new regulation is being implemented to protect the physical, mental, psychological, and social development of children.

The primary goal of the application is to protect children against the risks of sexual abuse and commercial exploitation they may encounter in the online environment.

Age Verification and e-Government Integration

In accordance with the regulation published in the Official Gazette, children under 15 will not be able to open social media accounts.

While social network providers are mandated to take the necessary technical measures to verify the age of children, age verification is planned to be conducted via e-Government.

Effective Date and Transition Period

This important regulation imposing restrictions on children's social media use will officially enter into force on November 1, 2026.

Relevant platforms will be granted a transition period until March 31, 2027, to verify existing accounts and adapt their systems.

Additional Restrictions for the 15-18 Age Group

Within the scope of the regulation, various additional restrictions will also be introduced for young users between the ages of 15 and 18.

On these accounts, privacy settings will be strengthened, live broadcasting features will be restricted, and addictive design features will be interfered with.

Implementation and Audit Phases

Social media companies are expected to develop filtering systems against harmful content and provide parental control tools.

The auditing of the application, the protection of personal data, and how to prevent bypassing the age limit constitute important headings of the process.