Turkey's parliamentary commission has proposed strict measures to limit minors' access to social media, recommending age verification, mandatory content filters and nighttime internet curfews. The AK Party plans to introduce a bill that would ban social media for under‑16s and require platforms to filter content until users turn 18. Advocates cite child safety, while tech firms warn weak age checks could drive kids to unregulated services.
Turkey Moves to Curb Minors' Social Media Use as Several Countries Tighten Online Rules
FILE PHOTO: Two 15-year-olds use social media on their mobile phones in Arinaga, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Borja Suarez/File Photo
ISTANBUL, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Turkey is preparing to tighten controls on children’s access to social media after a parliamentary commission this week proposed sweeping measures including age verification, content filters and nighttime internet curfews for minors.
Key Proposals and Political Next Steps
The ruling AK Party, led by President Tayyip Erdogan, is expected to table a draft law soon. Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas said the bill would include a ban on social media use for minors and require platforms to implement systems that filter or block harmful content.
The commission's recommendations go further, proposing the ability to remove content without prior notice and calling for monitoring of video games and AI-enabled toys to identify and limit material that could harm children.
International Context
These proposals come as other countries move to restrict young people's online access. In December 2024, Australia became the first country to bar children under 16 from major social platforms, blocking apps such as TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube and Meta's Instagram and Facebook. Spain, Greece and Slovenia are considering similar bans, while France, Britain and Germany are debating age limits and verification measures.
Enforcement, Risks and Industry Response
Turkey already enforces strict rules on online platforms and moves quickly to order takedowns or block access. A local censorship watchdog, IFOD, reported that Turkey had blocked access to about 1.2 million web pages and social posts by the end of 2024. Current rules require platforms to respond to official or user requests within two days and oblige operators to comply with most takedown demands. Platforms that do not comply can face advertising bans, reduced bandwidth and fines of up to 3% of global revenues.
Some parents support tougher limits. Shopkeeper Belma Kececioglu said her 10-year-old spends hours on social platforms and gaming: "It is like all the kids are social media addicts... and it gets even worse with harmful content."
Technology companies have warned that bans aimed at minors could be undermined by imperfect age-verification tools, and that strict rules might push children toward unregulated or underground services where risks are higher.
Examples Of Platforms Affected
Several services have already been blocked in Turkey: gaming platform Roblox, chat service Discord and story site Wattpad have been unavailable since 2024. Turkey also previously blocked Wikipedia for roughly three years.
What’s next: The AK Party is expected to present a draft law in the coming weeks. Debate in parliament and consultations with industry groups and child-safety experts will shape the final measures and enforcement mechanisms.
(Reporting by Can Sezer, Nevzat Devranoglu and Mert Ozkan; Editing by Daren Butler and Sharon Singleton)
Help us improve.
