Turkey Debates New Social Media Restrictions for Children
Updated 12:16 PM PDT, April 7, 2026
ISTANBUL — Turkish lawmakers have begun discussions regarding a proposed law aimed at limiting social media access for individuals under 15 years old. This move positions Turkey alongside other nations looking to safeguard children from potentially harmful online interactions.
If enacted, the law would require social media platforms to implement age-verification systems, create parental control features, and demand prompt action on content deemed harmful. The length of the parliamentary debate is still uncertain.
According to the government led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, this initiative seeks to enhance the safety and privacy of children online.
“Ensuring our children are protected from various risks and harmful content is our highest priority,” remarked Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas, Turkey’s family and social services minister, earlier this year.
On the other hand, the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has expressed concerns about the approach, suggesting that protecting children should involve rights-based strategies rather than outright bans.
The legislation, as proposed, would require digital platforms—including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram—to prevent users under 15 from creating accounts and implement parental controls to regulate children’s access.
Additionally, online gaming companies would need to appoint a representative in Turkey to comply with these new rules, with potential penalties ranging from reduced internet bandwidth to fines from the country’s communications authority.
Recently, the Turkish government has been known for imposing limits on online platforms, especially as they have become avenues for dissent. During protests last year supporting Istanbul’s incarcerated opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, online communications faced significant restrictions.
This initiative isn’t isolated; Australia started restricting social media access for those younger than 16 back in December, revoking access for about 4.7 million accounts linked to children. In a similar vein, Indonesia has also implemented a ban on digital platform access for individuals younger than 16, targeting risks such as exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online scams, and addiction.
Other countries, like Spain, France, and the United Kingdom, are evaluating or enacting measures to limit children’s access to social media, driven by growing worries over the impact of unregulated content on younger users.
