ANKARA — Turkey is preparing to impose strict controls on social media access for minors, following a parliamentary report recommending broad measures including age verification, content filtering, and night-time restrictions. The move aligns Turkey with other countries seeking to limit children’s exposure to online content deemed harmful.
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President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party is expected to submit a draft law soon, while Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas has said the bill will include a social media ban for children under 16. The legislation would also require service providers to implement robust content-filtering systems and monitor AI-enabled video games and toys for potentially harmful material.
Turkiye moves toward social media restrictions for minors
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Turkiye is preparing to move toward limiting minors’ access to social media, with a parliamentary commission report released this week urging sweeping steps such as age verification and content filtering.Turkish… pic.twitter.com/9EYYCRknF4
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The report further proposes night-time internet restrictions for devices used by minors under 18 and mandatory content filtration until the age of 18. “We need to protect our kids from moral erosion. We aim to protect our children from all types of addictions, including digital ones,” said Harun Mertoglu, senior AKP lawmaker and member of the parliament’s human rights inquiry committee.
The initiative comes as parents voice concerns about children spending excessive hours on social media and online gaming. Shopkeeper Belma Kececioglu said her 10-year-old son “spends hours on social media and playing games” and described children as being addicted to digital platforms.
However, social media companies have warned that such bans could be undermined by weak age-verification methods and could push minors toward unregulated platforms. Turkey already enforces strict internet regulations, banning access to over 1.2 million web pages and posts as of 2024, and imposing fines or ad restrictions on non-compliant platforms.
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Earlier measures have included bans on platforms like Roblox, Discord, Wattpad, and Wikipedia, highlighting Turkey’s aggressive approach to online content. The new draft law is expected to intensify these restrictions, potentially making Turkey one of the strictest countries globally regarding minors’ social media usage.