Turkey proposes social media ban for children under 15

Turkey has become the latest nation to propose a formal ban on social media for minors, with the ruling AK Party submitting a draft bill to parliament on Wednesday.

The legislation seeks to prohibit access for children under the age of 15, aligning the country with a growing global movement to restrict digital platforms for the protection of young people.

Under the new requirements, social media providers must implement robust age-verification systems and provide parental control tools. For teenagers over 15, separate "safe services" will be mandated. In emergencies, the bill requires the removal of harmful content within a single hour.

Social media platforms and foreign online game distributors will be given a six-month window to comply with the regulations, which include new age-rating standards for gaming software.

The financial stakes for tech giants are significant. Non-compliance could result in fines of up to 3% of a company’s global revenue or severe bandwidth restrictions.

Leyla Sahin Usta, Deputy Head of the AKP's Parliamentary Group, emphasised the government's commitment to creating a secure digital environment.

Turkey already maintains a rigorous regulatory stance, currently blocking approximately 1.2 million web pages and posts.

By introducing this bill, Ankara joins Australia and several European nations in responding to mounting concerns regarding the impact of digital consumption on children's health and safety.

The proposed law represents a significant escalation in Turkey's efforts to regulate the digital world and ensure that the internet remains a safe space for its youngest citizens.