Key facts
- Turkey has banned social media access for children under 15.
- The ban takes effect November 1, 2026.
- Platforms must implement age verification, including a government-issued "token."
- Minors over 15 cannot be offered services with "an addictive effect."
- Turkey has previously implemented tough social media restrictions.
Turkey has formally banned access to social media platforms for children under the age of 15, with the law taking effect on November 1. The legislation, published on Saturday, October 10, 2026, requires social media platforms to implement age verification measures, including a government-issued "token," and to refrain from offering services with "an addictive effect" to minors over 15.
The move aligns Turkey with a growing global trend of introducing stricter age restrictions on social media. Countries like Australia and Indonesia are exploring similar measures, while the European Union presented a proposal in September to restrict children's access until age 15. Austria, Denmark, France, Greece, Spain, and the United Kingdom are also pursuing national laws, and Canada has introduced a bill for a similar ban.
Turkey has a history of implementing stringent social media regulations, including bans on individual accounts and entire platforms. In 2024, Instagram was banned for a week, and recently, a news website and its social media accounts were blocked over "LGBT propaganda." Freedom House described Turkey's internet as "not free" in a 2025 report.