Turkey to Ban Children Under 15 From Using Social Media

Restrictions on children's use of social media will take effect in Turkey on November 1, 2026. The relevant regulation was published on October 10 in the government publication Resmî Gazete.

Under the new rules, social platforms will be prohibited from providing services to children under 15, while a special mode with additional personal data protection must be introduced for teenagers aged 15 to 18.

Parents and guardians will be provided with tools to control children's accounts. Adults will be able to manage profile settings, limit the amount of time teenagers spend on social media, and approve paid purchases and subscriptions.

Users' ages will be verified through a special identifier on the government's e-Devlet electronic services platform. Holders of existing accounts must verify their age by March 31, 2027.

The new rules will also restrict the collection and use of minors' data. Social media platforms will be prohibited from recommending other accounts to teenagers based on collected information and from suggesting their profiles to other users.

Other countries are introducing similar measures, with Australia being the first. A ban on social media use by children under 16 has been in effect in the country since December 10, 2025.