Turkish Parliament Enacts Law Banning Social Media for Children Under 15

On April 23, 2026, the Turkish parliament passed a law prohibiting access to social media platforms for children under the age of 15. This legislation mandates that social media companies implement age-verification systems and parental control tools to manage minors' access to their services. The law aims to protect young users from harmful online content, including cyberbullying, exploitation, and digital addiction.

Balkan InsightTurkish Parliament Approves Landmark Social Media Ban for Minors Under 15Turkey Tightens Social Media Access for Children – GKTodayTurkish parliament bans social media for children under 15Al Jazeera (website)Turkish parliament passes bill to restrict social media access for under-15s

The passage of this law follows a tragic incident in Kahramanmaras, where a 14-year-old boy fatally shot nine students and a teacher at a middle school. Authorities are investigating the perpetrator's online activities to understand his motivations, which has intensified public concern regarding the influence of social media on youth. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emphasized the need for measures to safeguard children's mental well-being, stating that some digital platforms are "corrupting our children's minds."

South China Morning Post

The new law requires social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram to:

Al Jazeera (website)

• Block children under 15 from creating accounts.

Turkish parliament passes bill to restrict social media access for under-15s

• Install age-verification systems to ensure compliance.

Turkish Parliament Approves Landmark Social Media Ban for Minors Under 15

• Provide parental control tools to manage children's access.

Turkish parliament passes bill to restrict social media access for under-15s

• Respond promptly to harmful content, with penalties for non-compliance, including fines and bandwidth reductions imposed by Turkey's communications watchdog.

Turkish parliament passes bill to restrict social media access for under-15s

President Erdogan expressed strong support for the legislation, highlighting the necessity of protecting children in the digital age. He stated, “We are living in a period where some digital sharing applications are corrupting our children's minds, and social media platforms have, to put it bluntly, become cesspools.”

Turkish Parliament Approves Landmark Social Media Ban for Minors Under 15

In contrast, the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), criticized the law, arguing that children should be protected through rights-based policies rather than outright bans. They contend that the legislation may increase government control over online spaces and diminish freedom of expression.

Turkey Tightens Social Media Access for Children – GKToday

Turkey's move aligns with a growing international trend, as several countries, including Australia, Indonesia, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom, have implemented or are considering similar restrictions on children's access to social media. These measures are largely driven by concerns over exposure to inappropriate content and the mental health risks associated with unregulated online environments.

Al Jazeera (website)

While the law has been passed, details regarding its implementation remain unclear. Critics question how effectively age verification will be enforced and whether the measures will genuinely protect children or simply increase governmental oversight of online activities.

Balkan Insight

The bill awaits President Erdogan's approval, which must occur within 15 days for it to become law. Following this, the Turkish government will need to clarify the operational aspects of the law, particularly how social media companies will integrate the required age-verification systems and parental controls.

Turkish Parliament Approves Landmark Social Media Ban for Minors Under 15