New age restrictions for social media usage in Turkey and Greece

Turkey and Greece are implementing new legislative measures to restrict social media access for children under 15. In Turkey, regulations published on October 10, 2026, take effect on November 1, 2026, requiring mandatory age verification via the e-Devlet portal. These rules prohibit accounts for users under 15 and impose strict protections for teenagers, including private-by-default accounts and bans on live streaming and targeted advertising.

Meanwhile, Greek authorities, led by ministers Akis Skertsos, Adonis Georgiadis, and Dimitris Papastergious, have introduced a legislative proposal to set a 15-year age limit for social media access, effective January 1, 2027. The Greek plan calculates age by calendar year, meaning those born in 2012 or earlier will meet the requirement, while those born from 2013 onwards will be restricted. The initiative aims to protect minors from cyberbullying, harmful content, and digital addiction without restricting general internet access or mobile device ownership. The Greek bill is pending parliamentary review.