Turkey has issued regulations barring children under the age of 15 from using social media, with the restrictions set to take effect on November 1. The rules are published in Turkey’s Official Gazette, the country’s journal for announcing laws and regulations, following parliamentary approval of the underlying law in April.
Under the regulation, social media providers must implement technical and administrative measures, including age verification, and are required to take steps to limit services that may have an addictive effect on children. Some outlets also report that platforms must provide different services for users aged 15 and older. Several reports describe the policy as part of a broader trend among countries introducing age-based limits to reduce online risks such as addiction, bullying, and related harms.
Some coverage also notes that rights groups in Turkey raise concerns that such restrictions could affect freedom of expression and that enforcement in recent weeks has coincided with account blocks.
