Turkey’s Parliament passed a bill on 23 April 2026 to restrict social media access for children under 15. The law applies to digital platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, and it requires age-verification systems, parental control tools, and faster action on harmful content.
Key Provisions of the Bill
- The bill bars children under 15 from opening social media accounts on specified platforms.
- The bill requires platforms to provide parental control tools for account supervision.
- The bill requires social media companies to install age-verification systems.
- The bill requires major platforms to intervene within one hour in emergency situations involving harmful content.
Enforcement and Penalties
- Turkey’s communications watchdog can impose fines for non-compliance.
- Turkey’s communications watchdog can also order reductions in internet bandwidth for violating platforms.
- The legislation will enter into force six months after publication in the official gazette.
Institutional and Political Context
The bill was introduced by the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which is Turkey’s ruling party. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to sign the legislation before it becomes law.
Child Online Safety Framework
Child online safety laws commonly cover age limits, parental controls, content moderation, and platform accountability. Age-verification systems are used in several jurisdictions to restrict access to services for minors.
Opposition View
The Republican People’s Party (CHP), Turkey’s main opposition party, has argued for rights-based policies instead of bans. The bill concerns children under 15, a category used in many digital safety regulations for minors.
Last Modified: April 23, 2026