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The Turkish parliament has approved a bill that will prohibit anyone under 15 from accessing social media platforms, with the rule slated to take effect on 1 November. The measure, announced by the government on the 10th of the month, requires platforms to implement age‑verification systems and other technical safeguards.
Key developments: the legislation follows a broader global trend of restricting minors’ online activity and mirrors similar proposals in the EU, Britain and Canada. It also comes after a series of Turkish internet crackdowns, including a week‑long Instagram block in 2024 and recent court orders shutting down LGBTQ‑related sites, prompting Freedom House to label Turkey’s internet “not free” in 2025.
Why it matters: the ban will impact millions of Turkish youths and set a precedent for digital regulation in the region, potentially influencing EU policy and prompting tech companies to redesign user‑onboarding processes. It also raises concerns about freedom of expression and government overreach, given Turkey’s recent history of blocking online content.
What to watch next: implementation details such as the age‑verification technology, reactions from social media companies, any legal challenges in Turkish courts, and whether the policy will be extended to older age groups or other forms of online content. [[1]]