President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has submitted a bill that would completely ban access to social media for children under 15. The initiative marks one of the strictest regulatory interventions on minors' digital activity in Europe and the Middle East, joining Turkey in a wider international wave of restrictions.
The deputy head of the AKP parliamentary group, Leyla Şahin Usta, said that platforms social media and online gaming will have six months to comply if the law is approved.
The main provisions of the bill
The bill amends the country's basic internet law and sets strict operating rules for companies operating in the Turkish market. If passed, it would explicitly prohibit account creation by those under 15 years of age, obliging platforms to implement effective and reliable age verification systems.
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For adolescents aged 15 to 18, a special "children's version" of the services, with stricter content filters, built-in parental control tools, time restrictions on use and mandatory parental approval for purchases or subscriptions.
At the same time, strict deadlines are established for responding to content removal orders, which in some cases reach one hour. The framework is also extended to online games, imposing mandatory age ratings and a ban on distributing titles without appropriate labeling.
The government's argument and strategy 2026-2030
The Turkish government presents the measure as a necessary intervention against phenomena such as digital addiction, cyberbullying and exposure of minors to inappropriate content. The Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, has argued that the platforms treat children as “commercial products”, calling for stronger state protection.
The 15-year age limit, according to the bill's supporters, is consistent with the country's existing legal framework, as the Penal Code provides for limited criminal liability for children under that age. The initiative is also part of the national digital strategy 2026-2030, which prioritizes the safety of minors online.
See also: Britain: Banning social media for children under 16?
International trend of restrictions on social media use
Turkey is not alone in taking such a move. Australia implemented a blanket ban on users under 16 by the end of 2025, while France approved a similar proposal with a limit of 15 years. The United Kingdom and Germany are considering similar measures, while states in the United States have already introduced legislative initiatives to tighten age verification.
This international trend reflects growing concerns about the impact of excessive screen exposure on the brain development and mental health of minors.
Implementation challenges and privacy issues
Despite bipartisan support for the need to protect children, digital rights experts point to significant challenges. Effective age verification without excessive collection of personal data remains technically and legally complex. Questions are raised about whether the use of VPNs or other circumvention tools could undermine enforcement of the law.
Moreover, analysts warn that a strict ban could shift children's activity to less regulated or underground digital platforms, making monitoring even more difficult. The balance between protecting minors and ensuring fundamental digital rights will be a critical point of discussion.
See also: Australia: Removal of 4.7 million social media accounts of minors
What it means for families and platforms
For millions of Turkish families, the proposal is an attempt to redefine childhood away from the constant use of platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X. For the companies themselves, however, it entails significant technological investments and policy adjustments.
Given the AKP's parliamentary majority, the bill is expected to pass without major upheaval. The real test, however, will not be its passage, but its implementation in an interconnected, globalized digital ecosystem where borders are often more theoretical than practical.
Source: Reuters
