Türkiye sets November 1 start for under-15 social media ban

Türkiye has barred social-media providers from offering services to children under 15, with the new rules scheduled to take effect on November 1. The regulation, published in the Official Gazette on October 10, also requires age checks and introduces additional protections for users aged 15 to 17. The measures follow legislation adopted by parliament in April. Providers must take technical and administrative steps to prevent under-15s from accessing restricted services, including verifying users’ ages. Existing accounts must be checked by March 31, 2027; accounts confirmed to belong to children under 15 are to be closed under the requirements. For users aged 15 to 17, platforms must apply stricter privacy settings by default, including private accounts and hidden follower and following lists. The rules also restrict messaging to accounts a teenager already follows, prohibit livestreaming and personalized advertising, and require protections against other users viewing or capturing some profile and post content. Providers must offer parental-control tools that allow parents to manage account settings, limit screen time and approve purchases.