Türkiye restricts teen access to social media under new law
Photo: Turkish flags (Getty Images)
Türkiye is introducing a strict ban on the use of social media for children under the age of 15. The country’s parliament has already approved the bill, and the law now awaits the signature of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, according to The New York Times.
The authorities explain the measure as protection of minors. The new law obliges tech giants to ensure that they do not provide services to children. Companies must also introduce parental controls for any online financial transactions.
President Erdoğan personally supported the initiative. He strongly criticized social networks:
“We are living in a period where some digital-sharing applications have violated our children’s minds and social media platforms have, to put it bluntly, become cesspools.”
According to the ruling party, social media poses threats such as cyberbullying, pornography, and commercial exploitation. By introducing an age limit, the government aims to stop digital addiction among young people.
School tragedies as a catalyst
The bill had been in preparation for a long time, but recent tragic events accelerated the process. This month, the country was shaken by two school shootings occurring two days apart. During these incidents, 9 people were killed, and 29 others were injured.
The ban will be implemented gradually, but the biggest question concerns age verification. Turkish officials say access to social networks will go through a special government online portal.
Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç explained plans regarding anonymity:
“We are bringing accountability to social media. Freedom is everywhere, but even freedom has limits.”
He believes anonymous accounts help criminals. The new system will allow the government to identify any account owner. If a violation is suspected, data will be handed over to law enforcement.
“A sinister system”: why critics are alarmed
Human rights activists do not trust the government’s intentions. They fear mass surveillance, as anonymity previously allowed people to freely discuss politics or sports.
Yaman Akdeniz, a law professor at Istanbul Bilgi University, is skeptical:
“Under the guise of protecting children, they are introducing a much more sinister system.”
He believes people will start deleting their accounts due to fear of persecution and job loss. Türkiye already has a history of blocking YouTube, Instagram, and X. Even Wikipedia was inaccessible in the country for two and a half years.
A global trend toward restrictions
Turkey is not the first country to take this path. Worldwide, concern is growing about the impact of social media on teenagers’ self-esteem.
Who else is introducing restrictions:
- Australia: introduced the world’s first ban under 16 in December
- Indonesia: joined the initiative in March
- France: the parliament is considering a ban on under-15s
- Malaysia is currently preparing similar legislation
Authorities in these countries believe social media harms attention spans. However, Türkiye’s model with government-controlled access is considered the most radical, the publication notes.
Why social media is dangerous for teenagers
Russian occupiers often recruit Ukrainian teenagers through social media, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Recently, law enforcement uncovered two schoolchildren who, on Russian orders via social networks, were supposed to plant explosives in their schools and shoot classmates.
Criminals online are increasingly impersonating peers to gain children’s trust. Therefore, parents are urged to recognize dangerous communication in time and protect children from online manipulation, the National Police emphasizes.
Meanwhile, in Greece, starting January 1, 2027, children will also be banned from accessing social media. In the digital age of adulthood, there will also be a set at 15 years old.
