Turkey to implement social media age verification on November 1

Turkey is set to implement a new social media regulation starting November 1, 2026, aimed at protecting children and combating screen addiction. Under the new rules, social media platforms will be prohibited from providing services to children under the age of 15.

To enforce this, a digital age verification system integrated with the e-Devlet portal will be introduced. Users will obtain a digital age verification token through the portal, which informs platforms of the user's age group without sharing sensitive personal data such as full names or ID numbers. While new accounts for those under 15 will be blocked immediately, existing users have until March 31, 2027, to complete the verification process or face account closure.

Users aged 15 to 17 will be subject to specific safety restrictions, including mandatory private profiles, disabled live streaming, and the removal of infinite scrolling features. Additionally, platforms must provide parental controls to limit usage time and monitor settings. Authorities have also warned citizens to remain vigilant against fraudulent SMS and email messages claiming accounts will be closed to steal personal information.