Turkey mandates age verification for social media access

Turkey has officially introduced a new legislative ban prohibiting children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms. Following the publication of the regulation in the Official Gazette on October 10, the measure is set to take effect on November 1, 2026.

The law mandates strict age verification for new account registrations, which will be facilitated through the national digital portal, e-Devlet. This system confirms the user's age category without disclosing personal identity to the platforms. For teenagers aged 15 and older, additional protective measures are enforced: accounts will be set to private by default, live streaming and personalized advertisements are banned, and direct messaging is restricted to accepted followers, with follower lists hidden from public view.

These measures represent a significant tightening of digital oversight in Turkey, aiming to enhance the protection of minors online. By integrating government digital infrastructure with private social media operations, the state intends to ensure compliance with these new age-based restrictions starting next month.