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The Turkish parliament has passed a bill that will prohibit anyone under the age of 15 from accessing social‑media platforms, with the rule set to take effect on November 1. The measure follows a wave of similar proposals across Europe, including EU‑wide discussions and national bills in Austria, Denmark, France, Greece and Spain.
Key developments:
- The law obliges platforms to implement age‑verification systems and other technical safeguards before allowing users to log in.
- It extends the ban to services that provide “addictive effects” to minors aged 15 and older, tightening controls on content that could influence young people.
- Turkey’s move comes after a history of internet restrictions, such as a temporary Instagram block in 2024 and recent court orders against LGBTQ‑related sites, which have drawn criticism from human‑rights groups and earned a “not free” rating from Freedom House in 2025.
Why it matters:
- The ban will impact global tech companies operating in Turkey, requiring rapid deployment of verification infrastructure.
- It signals a broader authoritarian trend in Turkey’s digital policy, potentially affecting freedom of expression for younger users.
- Regional peers may look to Turkey’s approach when drafting their own youth‑online safety laws.
What to watch next:
- How major platforms (e.g., Meta, TikTok, Twitter/X) respond to the verification requirement and whether they challenge the law in Turkish courts.
- Potential pushback from civil‑society groups and international watchdogs monitoring internet freedom.
- Follow‑up legislation or enforcement actions, especially regarding content deemed “addictive” for older teens. [[1]]