Turkey bans social media services for children under 15

12:30

By: Azzat Manal

Turkey bans social media services for children under 15

Turkey has introduced new regulations prohibiting social media providers from offering their services to children under the age of 15, marking another step in the country's efforts to strengthen online protection for minors. The rules, published in the Official Gazette on Saturday, establish new obligations for platforms operating under the regulatory framework.

Under the new provisions, social media companies are not permitted to provide services to users younger than 15. Providers must also introduce differentiated services and appropriate safeguards for users aged 15 and above, taking account of their specific needs and levels of maturity.

The regulations emphasize that platforms must prioritize the best interests of children when designing and delivering their services. They are expected to consider minors' physical, intellectual, psychological, social and emotional development, placing greater responsibility on digital companies to assess how their products affect younger users.

Age verification is another central element of the new framework. The rules require providers to use methods that determine whether a user meets the applicable age threshold while prioritizing personal data protection. Verification systems should establish age eligibility without unnecessarily requiring users to disclose their identity.

The regulations also call for greater transparency and accountability in the way platforms operate. Age-verification methods, algorithmic systems and policies specifically designed for children must be sufficiently clear and capable of being audited and tested by users, parents and the relevant cybersecurity authority.

Social media companies are additionally required to provide parental-control tools that are accessible and easy to use. These measures are intended to help parents supervise children's online activities and better understand the protections available through the platforms.

The new rules form part of broader social media legislation adopted by the Turkish parliament in April. Their implementation places additional compliance responsibilities on technology companies, particularly in relation to age restrictions, privacy safeguards and the design of services accessible to minors.

The move comes amid wider international debate over how governments should regulate children's access to social media. Supporters of stricter age limits generally emphasize online safety and the potential risks associated with unrestricted access, while questions surrounding privacy, reliable age verification and the practical enforcement of restrictions remain important considerations for regulators and digital platforms.