Türkiye Passes Bill to Ban Social Media for Children Under 15
Legislation includes mandatory age verification systems for all platforms; critics warn of privacy and surveillance concerns
ISTANBUL — April 23, 2026 — The Turkish Parliament passed a sweeping bill late Wednesday, April 22, banning children under 15 from accessing social media platforms, joining a growing global movement to protect minors from online harm and introducing one of the most stringent digital age-restriction regimes in the world.
The legislation, introduced by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling party, passed with a parliamentary majority and is expected to be signed by the president within 15 days. The law will take effect six months after publication in the Official Gazette, according to state-run media reports.
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Under the new law, minors under 15 will be prohibited from creating accounts on social media platforms, with digital platforms required to implement effective age-verification systems that go beyond simple self-declaration. Social media providers must also offer “differentiated, age-appropriate services” specifically designed for users 15 and over.
New Parental Controls and Platform Obligations
The legislation introduces comprehensive parental control mechanisms. Platforms will be required to provide tools that allow parents to manage children’s account settings, approve or restrict in-app purchases, and monitor or limit screen time.
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Social media companies will also be obliged to take steps to prevent deceptive or harmful advertising and reduce online risks targeting minors.
The law includes a tiered enforcement mechanism for non-compliant platforms. If obligations are not fulfilled within 30 days following an administrative fine, new advertising on the platform will be banned. If violations persist, authorities may seek court approval to reduce the platform’s bandwidth by 50 percent — and ultimately by up to 90 percent — significantly limiting access in Türkiye.
In urgent cases related to national security or public safety, large platforms with more than 10 million daily users in Türkiye must comply with content removal or access-blocking orders within one hour.
Gaming Platforms Also Affected
Online gaming platforms will be required to appoint a representative in Türkiye to ensure compliance with the new regulations. Under the law, gaming platforms will not be allowed to offer games without proper age ratings. Games receiving the highest age rating will be available exclusively to adult users.
President Erdoğan’s ‘Cesspool’ Comments
President Erdoğan strongly endorsed the legislation in a televised address on Monday, April 20, framing the measure as a moral imperative amid rising concern over the impact of digital platforms on young people.
“We are living in a period where some digital sharing applications are corrupting our children’s minds and social media platforms have, to put it bluntly, become cesspools,” Erdoğan said.
The president’s comments came days after a 14-year-old boy killed nine students and a teacher at a middle school in Kahramanmaraş, southern Türkiye, in a gun attack on April 15. Police are reportedly investigating the perpetrator’s online activity to determine his motivation.
Turkish authorities have expressed concern about social media’s role in facilitating youth violence, bullying and access to harmful content. A study cited by Türkiye’s Family and Social Services Ministry found that social media contributes to “very intense depression, anxiety and behavioral disorders” among children.
Opposition Criticism and Privacy Concerns
The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has criticized the proposal, arguing that children should be protected “not with bans but with rights-based policies.”
Critics have also raised concerns about a provision requiring all social media users to verify their identities and register with Türkiye’s internet authority — a measure experts warn could make government critics more vulnerable to prosecution.
Privacy advocates have expressed alarm over the mandatory collection of biometric or government ID data for age verification, raising concerns about data security and potential government surveillance.
The Turkish government has a recent record of restricting online platforms as they have grown as a means of expressing dissent. Online communications were widely restricted during last year’s protests in support of Istanbul’s jailed opposition mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu.
The Information and Communication Technologies Authority of Türkiye (BTK) will oversee enforcement of the new regulations.
Broader Context: Global Trend of Social Media Age Restrictions
Türkiye’s legislation is part of a growing international movement to restrict children’s access to social media amid mounting concern over its impact on youth mental health and safety.
Australia became the first country in the world to introduce a full ban on social media for children under 16 in December 2025, leading to the closure of approximately 4.7 million accounts. Indonesia began implementing a ban on social media for children under 16 in March 2026.
Other countries are considering or have implemented similar measures. Under France’s proposed digital age verification law, platforms would be required to verify user ages or face heavy fines. Greece, Spain, Denmark, and Portugal are also developing age-restriction frameworks. The United Kingdom is debating a statutory ban similar to Australia’s.
Background: Years in Development
The legislation follows more than 18 months of study by the Turkish government. Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Göktaş told reporters in December 2025 that the government had examined “the most advanced regulations” globally, particularly in the United Kingdom and Australia, and had consulted with civil society organizations and social media platform representatives.
“We propose granting social network providers the obligation to absolutely not provide services and not open accounts for children under 15,” Göktaş said at the time. She emphasized the need for age-verification mechanisms that are “not based solely on declaration.”
The ministry also launched a “Child Safe” (Çocuklar Güvende) website and mobile application last month to provide safety guidance for families, with emergency call features and a reporting mechanism for harmful content.
Social Media Platforms in Scope
The new regulations apply to social media platforms with more than 10 million daily users in Türkiye. Major global platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X, will be subject to the age-verification and parental control requirements.
The legislation also includes a provision requiring online gaming companies to appoint a legal representative in Türkiye.
Coming Into Force
President Erdoğan is expected to sign the legislation within the 15-day constitutional period. Once signed, the law will be published in the Official Gazette and take effect following a six-month transition period, giving platforms time to implement the required age-verification and parental control systems.
Any legal challenges to the law are expected to be filed before Türkiye’s constitutional court following its enactment.
As of Thursday, April 23, the Turkish parliament was preparing to transmit the legislation to the presidency for final approval.
SOURCES / INPUTS
Anadolu Ajansı: Türkiye introduces new social media regulations to protect young users
AzerNews: Türkiye passes bill to ban social media for children aged under 15
Hürriyet Daily News: Türkiye votes to ban social media for under-15s
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