Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş announced that Turkey is finalizing legislative work on a
social media regulation aimed at
protecting children under 16 from harmful content. Speaking after a
Cabinet meeting in Beştepe, Göktaş emphasized that the regulation
will not ban internet access but will introduce
age-based restrictions and
parental control measures.
Age-Based Regulation in Two Stages
The government is working on a
two-tiered system:
- Children under 13 will have stricter protections.
- Children aged 13-16 will be subject to controlled access with additional safeguards.
Minister Göktaş stated that
social media platforms will face serious obligations regarding
age verification when opening accounts for users under 16. Additionally, platforms will be required to
develop diverse parental control tools, allowing parents to
monitor and limit screen time.
Enforcement and Parental Responsibility
To ensure compliance,
penalties will be introduced for platforms that fail to meet these requirements. However, Göktaş stressed that
regulations alone are not enough and that parents must take an
active role in
"digital parenting"—a concept that involves
protecting children from online risks. To support parents, the ministry plans to offer
digital literacy training.
Whats Next For Social Media?
Göktaş confirmed that discussions with
social media platform representatives will continue in the coming months. The ministry aims to
finalize the regulation within the year, working closely with
lawmakers and relevant institutions to ensure a
comprehensive and enforceable framework.
social media
