Turkey mandates age checks under new social media ban
Turkey has prohibited social media companies from providing services to children younger than 15 under regulations published on Saturday, with the restrictions scheduled to take effect on 1 November. The rules, issued by the Presidency’s Cyber Security Directorate and published in the Official Gazette, require platforms to verify users’ ages, refuse registrations by children below the threshold…
Turkey's Presidency's Cyber Security Directorate has introduced new regulations mandating age checks for social media platforms operating within the country. The rules, published in the Official Gazette, stipulate that companies must prevent children under 15 from accessing their services and implement stringent measures for teenagers aged 15 to 17.
Social media providers will be required to verify users' ages via Turkey's e-Devlet digital services system, which can issue a token confirming a user's eligibility for account creation without sharing personal information. Over 15 million Turkish citizens, aged 15 to 17, will have their existing accounts subjected to age verification by 31 March 2027.
Teenagers' accounts will be private, barring features like livestreaming, personalized ads, infinite-scrolling feeds, and messaging with non-followed accounts. Parents will be granted greater control over their children's online activities through parental controls, which will be easily accessible and functional. These measures aim to safeguard minors' personal information, prevent discriminatory practices, and limit exposure to potentially harmful content.
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