Turkey Bans Social Media for Children Under 15

In a move to safeguard the well-being of children, Turkey has implemented new regulations banning social media platforms from offering their services to users under the age of 15. The Cyber Security Directorate issued these rules in the Official Gazette, requiring companies to prevent children below 15 from accessing their platforms.

For individuals aged 15 and above, social media companies must offer age-appropriate services and implement safeguards tailored to their development, including their physical, mental, psychological, social, and emotional growth.

These regulations also mandate social media firms to establish age verification systems that safeguard users' personal information. However, these systems should only determine whether a user meets the minimum age requirement without verifying their identity. Furthermore, platforms are obligated to make their age verification methods, algorithms, and child protection policies transparent, allowing users, parents, and the Cyber Security Directorate to review them.

Companies must provide clear and easily accessible parental control tools to assist parents in managing their children's online activities.

The primary goal of these measures is to prioritize children's safety and well-being while ensuring access to age-appropriate online services. The announcement of these new regulations was first reported by ProPakistani.