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Turkey votes to ban social media for under-15s
The Turkish parliament voted to prohibit children under 15 from creating or accessing social media accounts, with platforms required to implement age-verification systems. The law will enter into force six months after publication in the official gazette, and Erdogan is expected to sign it. The move is placed in a broader international context of similar bans and age restrictions.
Why It Matters
If enacted, the law could change how social media platforms operate in Turkey and may influence regional debates on youth access to online platforms and content moderation duties.
Timeline
5 Events
International context and similar proposals
April 22, 2026
The report places Turkey's move in a wider context, noting France, Greece, Denmark, and Spain pursuing or debating limits on under-15s, the EU considering recommendations, and Australia having earlier restricted under-16 use.
President Erdogan expected to sign the legislation
April 22, 2026
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to sign the legislation, which was introduced by his party.
Emergency content intervention duty for major platforms
April 22, 2026
If alerted to an 'emergency', major social media platforms will have a duty to intervene within an hour of harmful content being posted online, according to NTV.
Law to enter into force six months after publication
April 22, 2026
The law will enter into force six months after being published in the official gazette.
Turkish parliament votes to ban under-15s from social media
April 22, 2026
The Turkish parliament voted to prevent children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms; under-15s will be banned from creating accounts, and digital platforms will be required to implement age-verification systems (Anadolu via NTV).