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Türkiye bars under-15s from opening new social media accounts
A regulation requiring age verification on social media took effect today. Children under 15 will no longer be able to open accounts on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube; the deadline for existing accounts is March 31, 2027.
A new era in social media began today in Türkiye. The Regulation on the Provision of Age-Appropriate Segregated Services to Children by Social Network Providers and Age Verification, prepared by the Presidency's Cybersecurity Authority, took effect on November 1, 2026.
From now on, requests by children under 15 to open new accounts will not be approved. Domestic and foreign platforms accessible from Türkiye, including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, WhatsApp and Discord, are covered by the rule.
Age will be verified through e-Devlet
A user's age will be verified through e-Devlet when an account is opened. No identity or personal information will be transferred to the platforms; only information on whether the user has passed the age thresholds of 15 and 18 will be transmitted. The platforms will be responsible for carrying out the verification.
Existing accounts will not be closed immediately
Accounts that are currently open will not be deleted en masse today. The deadline for age verification for 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.
Young people aged 15 to 18 will instead receive a segregated service. These accounts will be private by default, livestreaming will not be available, and personalized advertising will not be displayed. Platforms will also be required to offer parents tools such as limiting usage time and approving paid transactions.
Beware of fake links
The Center for Combating Disinformation warned against fake SMS messages and email links containing phrases such as “Your account will be closed” or “Verify your age immediately.” Only the turkiye.gov.tr website or the official e-Devlet application should be used for verification.
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