TURKEY PULLS THE PLUG: UNDER-15s FACE SOCIAL MEDIA BAN AS NEW RULES TAKE EFFECT

Turkey has officially begun enforcing sweeping new social media restrictions prohibiting children under the age of 15 from accessing social networking platforms. The regulations, effective November 1, 2026, require platforms to introduce age-verification procedures and prevent underage children from opening accounts. Apparently, childhood is getting a digital timeout, and the government is making sure the countdown actually works.

TURKEY: NEW AGE-VERIFICATION RULES TAKE EFFECT

Under the new regulations, social media companies must verify users’ ages through approved digital verification procedures. Accounts belonging to children below 15 must be restricted, while platforms are expected to introduce additional safeguards for teenagers aged 15 to 17. Existing accounts will also undergo verification, with companies facing deadlines to comply with the new requirements.

The rules extend beyond simply blocking younger users. Teenagers aged 15 to 17 will face additional privacy protections and restrictions on certain platform features, including personalised advertising and potentially harmful engagement mechanisms. Parents will also receive tools to supervise screen time and manage aspects of their children’s online activities. In short, the days of unrestricted scrolling may be coming to an end for younger users.

SAFETY MEASURES SPARK DIGITAL FREEDOM DEBATE

Turkey’s government maintains that the restrictions are intended to protect children from harmful online content, cyberbullying, privacy violations and other digital risks. However, the implementation of mandatory age verification has raised questions about personal privacy, data protection and the practical challenges of identifying underage users across multiple platforms.

Critics argue that completely restricting access could also prevent young people from enjoying legitimate educational, social and informational opportunities available online. Others believe stronger parental supervision and digital literacy programmes could provide a more balanced solution. Meanwhile, technology companies must find ways to comply without turning ordinary account registration into an examination in digital identity verification.

As the new restrictions take effect, attention will turn to how effectively the platforms enforce the rules and whether the measures achieve their intended purpose. Could other countries adopt similar policies, or will the debate over children’s digital freedom grow even louder? Stay connected with OGM News NG for further updates on this developing story.