Turkey Bans Social Media for Children Under 15

Turkey has become the latest country to crack down on young people’s access to social media, after lawmakers voted on April 22 to pass a bill restricting platform use for children under 15. The legislation now awaits final approval from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before it becomes law.

What the Law Requires

The bill mandates that social media platforms install age-verification systems, offer parental control tools, and respond swiftly to content considered harmful to minors. Platforms that fail to comply will face legal penalties, though authorities have stopped short of specifying which age-verification method each platform must adopt. Critics argue this ambiguity could weaken enforcement, leaving courts to decide whether a platform made a reasonable effort to comply.

Turkey’s law goes slightly further than Australia’s under-16 social media ban, which has itself faced scrutiny. A three-month review of Australia’s restrictions found that 70% of teens under 16 were still accessing banned apps, and reports of harm to the country’s eSafety Commissioner had not decreased — raising real questions about whether sweeping bans achieve their intended goals.

A Growing Global Trend

Despite mixed evidence, nations around the world continue pushing forward with similar legislation. Experts and researchers have pointed out that social media can carry as many benefits for teenagers as drawbacks, with digital literacy education often cited as a more effective long-term solution. Nevertheless, broad platform bans carry significant political appeal and media attention, which may explain why governments continue pursuing them regardless of early results from pioneering nations like Australia.

Turkey’s move signals that the global momentum behind teen social media restrictions shows no sign of slowing.