Social media restrictions for under-15s begin Nov. 1 with age verification via e-Devlet

The regulation governing social network providers takes effect on Nov. 1. Children under 15 will not be able to open new accounts, while those aged 15 to 18 will receive a limited, safer service.

The regulation requiring social network providers to offer children differentiated services and conduct age verification will take effect on Nov. 1, 2026. Prepared by the Presidency of Cybersecurity, the regulation was published in the Official Gazette on Oct. 10.

Under the regulation, social media platforms will not be allowed to provide services to children under 15. Requests to open new accounts by users below this age will not be approved. Domestic and foreign platforms accessible from Türkiye, including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, WhatsApp and Discord, are covered by the regulation.

Age verification will be conducted through an age-verification token obtained via the e-Devlet Gateway. The token will not contain the user's name or personal information; it will only indicate whether the user has passed the age thresholds of 15 and 18. The social network provider will be responsible for carrying out the verification.

Social media applications on a smartphone screen

Young people aged 15 to 18 will receive a differentiated service by default. These accounts cannot be made public, their privacy settings will be set to the highest level, live streaming will not be available, and profiling for personalized advertising will not be allowed. Young people will only be able to receive messages from accounts they follow.

Platforms will also be required to provide parents with tools to limit usage time, set spending limits and approve paid purchases.

The deadline for age verification of existing accounts is March 31, 2027. Accounts that have not been verified by that date or are determined to belong to a user under 15 will be closed and their data deleted. Platforms that fail to meet their obligations may face sanctions under Law No. 5651.

The Presidency's Center for Combating Disinformation had warned citizens about fake e-Devlet links sent in the name of age verification. The center said such links received by SMS, email or message should not be opened.

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