Turkey bans social media for under-15s from 1 November, citing child safety
The ban was published in the official gazette and takes effect on 1 November, after parliament adopted the law in April. Platforms must introduce age verification, and the rule joins a growing set of age limits in Europe and beyond.
The ban and its conditions
Turkey's government officially banned children under 15 from social media platforms on Saturday, 10 October 2026, when the decision was published in the official gazette. The measure follows parliament's adoption of the law in April and takes effect on 1 November. Platforms must "take the necessary technical and administrative measures, including age verification", the law states. The verification system will operate with a state-issued token, according to Article 7 of the law. The law also covers minors above 15, stating that platforms may not offer them services that could have an "addictive effect".
- Parliament adopts the law
- Decision published in the official gazette
- Ban takes effect
Criticism over free expression
Human rights groups criticize restrictions on free expression in Turkey that target LGBT people, the media and the political opposition. Numerous social media accounts have been blocked in recent weeks. Last week Turkey blocked a news website and its social media accounts after a court ruled that its content was "LGBT+ propaganda", prompting anger from human rights and media freedom organizations. Turkey has often imposed strict limits on social media, blocking individual media and activist accounts from time to time. In 2024 Ankara banned Instagram for one week amid claims that Meta's platform censored users mourning the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. A 2025 report by the US-based think tank Freedom House classified Turkey's internet as "not free".
A wider wave of age limits
Turkey joins a growing group of countries, including Australia and Indonesia, that are introducing or considering stricter age limits on social media. Australia was the first country to impose a ban, for users under 16, and France and Indonesia followed. The United Kingdom has scheduled its restriction to take effect in 2027. Austria, Denmark, France, Greece and Spain are advancing national laws to limit children's access, and Norway and Italy are also preparing or debating similar legislation. In Portugal, a bill presented by the PSD to restrict free access for under-16s was approved in general terms in February, and its final text is expected to be voted on in October. Sources describe the European Union's position differently. One account says the EU presented a legislative proposal in September to restrict access to social media and video-sharing platforms until children reach 15. Another says Ursula von der Leyen announced in September that she will propose barring under-13s from social media and giving under-15s no personal accounts.
Stated risks and next steps
The measures are framed as protection against screen addiction, sleep deprivation, cyberbullying and eating disorders. Platforms must put the required measures in place before 1 November, when the ban takes effect. The verification system will rely on the state token set out in Article 7 of the law. The law's ban on addictive services applies to minors above 15, while the age ban itself applies to children under 15.
