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Turkey has introduced new regulations to restrict social media access for children under the age of 15, marking a significant step towards strengthening online safety and protecting young users in the digital environment.
Under the new rules, social media platforms will be prohibited from providing services to children below 15. Companies will be required to implement age-verification mechanisms when users create accounts, using Turkey’s e-government system. Accounts identified as belonging to children under the permitted age will be blocked.
The regulations are scheduled to take effect on November 1, with platforms expected to complete age verification for existing accounts by March 31, 2027. Accounts found to belong to under-15 users will have to be closed.
The measures also introduce additional safeguards for teenagers aged 15 to 17. Their accounts will be private by default, with content filters and restrictions on personalised advertising and livestreaming features. Platforms will also be required to introduce technical measures to prevent screenshots from being captured on these accounts.
Parental supervision is another key element of the new framework. Social media companies must provide tools enabling parents to manage account settings, limit screen time and authorise paid transactions.
To ensure compliance, Turkey has established strict penalties for platforms that fail to follow the regulations. Violations could result in fines of up to 3% of global revenue, advertising bans and restrictions on bandwidth.
The move reflects growing international concern about children’s exposure to harmful online content, excessive screen time and digital risks. Turkey’s approach places greater responsibility on technology companies and parents to create safer online experiences for young people.
The implementation of these rules will be closely watched as countries worldwide debate how to balance children’s digital participation with online safety and responsible social media use.