Türkiye Blocks Social Media Access for Children Under 15

Türkiye has introduced new social media regulations that prohibit children under 15 from creating accounts, with restrictions set to take effect on November 1, 2026. The measures require platforms to implement mandatory age verification and strengthen online protections for teenage users.

According to Türkiye Today, Türkiye’s Cybersecurity Presidency published the regulation in the country’s Official Gazette on October 10. It requires platforms to verify users’ ages through e-Devlet, the government’s digital services portal, before allowing account registration.

The verification system will generate digital tokens confirming whether individuals meet the required age thresholds of 15 and 18. These tokens will not disclose personal identity information, allowing platforms to verify eligibility while limiting unnecessary data collection.

Children under 15 will be denied account access, while users aged 15 to 17 will receive accounts with additional privacy restrictions. These include private profiles, limited messaging, and a ban on personalised advertising.

The regulation also restricts autoplay, endless scrolling and behavioural profiling for teenage accounts. Social media companies must introduce safeguards against harmful content and prevent unauthorised screenshots of minors’ profile images and posts.

Platforms must verify existing accounts by March 31, 2027. Accounts suspected of violating the age restrictions may be suspended until users complete verification.

Companies must also provide accessible appeal mechanisms, including human review of disputed account restrictions and verification decisions.

The development reinforces the growing regulatory importance of reliable age assurance technologies. For social media providers, accurate age verification methods, including privacy-preserving biometric age estimation where appropriate, could support compliance while reducing reliance on collecting sensitive identity documents.

Türkiye’s decision reflects growing international pressure on digital platforms to strengthen safeguards for children accessing online services.

Global Precedents for Social Media Age Restrictions

Australia began enforcing social media age restrictions for children under 16 in December 2025, requiring platforms to prevent underage accounts. The regulation covers major platforms including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Similar regulatory discussions worldwide show a growing emphasis on age verification, digital identity protection, and stronger safeguards for children’s online safety.