Turkey Sets 15-Under Social Media Ban, Age Checks Due Nov. 1
Platforms must verify new accounts with a government age token and face fines of up to 3% of global revenue for violations.
- On Saturday, Turkey's Cyber Security Directorate published regulations in the Official Gazette banning social media services for children under 15, effective Nov 1.
- Legislation passed by the Turkish parliament in April provides the legal basis; Turkey joins Australia, Britain, and France in legislating to protect children from digital risks like addiction and bullying.
- Providers must 'take the necessary technical and administrative measures, including age verification, to implement' protections; the regulation dictates companies 'cannot provide services to children who have not reached the age of 15.'
- Rights groups have expressed concern that these measures restrict freedom of expression, potentially targeting LGBTQ communities and political opposition; numerous accounts were blocked in recent weeks.
- Providers must ensure verification methods and algorithm structures are 'clear, auditable and testable for users, parents and the directorate' while developing user-friendly parental control tools to meet the Nov 1 deadline.
106 Articles
106 Articles
Amid a global trend of restricting social media use by children and adolescents, Turkey is also banning social media use for children under the age of 15. According to reports from AFP and Bloomberg on the 11th (local time), the Turkish government published regulations containing these details in the Official Gazette the previous day.
Turkey's Strict Age Gates: How a November Ban on Social Media for Under-15s Tests Platform Compliance and Privacy
Turkey moved swiftly this weekend to turn months of legislative intent into concrete rules. On October 10 the Official Gazette published detailed regulations that bar social media platforms from offering any services to children under 15. The measures take effect November 1. Platforms must verify the age of every new user through a government-issued digital token linked to the national e-Devlet portal. Existing accounts face the same scrutiny by…
Turkey officially announced on Saturday a ban on the use of social media by those under the age of 15, which is set to take effect on November 1.
Turkey officially announced on Saturday a ban on the use of social media by those under the age of 15, which is set to take effect on November 1.
The new rules will enter into force on 1 November and the age check of the owners of the already existing accounts is due to be completed by 31 March 2027.
The Turkish government is significantly tightening platform regulations starting next month, including banning social media use for children under 15 and restricting targeted advertising and infinite scrolling features for teenagers aged 15 to 17. Age will be verified through a government authentication system, and major changes are expected in the operational methods of global platforms.
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