Turkey Bans Social Media for Children Under 15

The Turkish government has enacted a new law formally banning access to social media platforms for children under the age of 15. The legislation, which was adopted by the Turkish Parliament last April, was published on Saturday and will come into force on November 1.

Social media platforms will be required to "take the necessary technical and administrative measures, including age verification," to implement these new rules. The age verification system is expected to operate using a government-issued "token."

Highlights

• Turkey has banned social media access for children under 15.
• Platforms must implement age verification measures.
• Services with "addictive effects" are prohibited for minors over 15.
• This move aligns with a global trend of stricter age restrictions.
• The ban will take effect on November 1.

Details

The new law aims to prevent social media platforms from serving users under 15. It also includes provisions for minors over 15, stating that platforms cannot offer them services that could have "an addictive effect." This regulation comes as other countries, such as Australia and Indonesia, are also introducing or exploring tougher age restrictions on social media access.

Turkey has a history of implementing strict limitations on social media services. For instance, Instagram was banned for a week in 2024. More recently, a news website and its social media accounts were blocked over what a court deemed "LGBT propaganda," drawing criticism from human rights and media freedom groups.

Why it matters

This law is part of a global push to enhance children's online safety. However, given Turkey's record on internet freedoms, it could also spark debates regarding digital rights and media freedom. Other nations, including the European Union and Canada, are also working on similar legal proposals to restrict children's access to social media, indicating a growing international priority on this issue.