[REVISION HISTORY]

Global implementation of social media age restrictions

Updated 8 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-25 23:12 UTC → 2026-10-26 10:28 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Several nations are implementing legal regulations to restrict social media access for minors to enhance digital safety. The United Arab Emirates and Malaysia have established age-based barriers. In the UAE, Cabinet Resolution No. 106 of 2026 prohibits children under 15 from operating personal accounts, requiring platforms to use government digital IDs, biometrics, or AI age estimation by June 2027. Notably, caregiver consent cannot override this prohibition. Malaysia’s Child Protection Code bars children under 16 from registering accounts, utilizing official records like MyKad or passports for enforcement. Turkey has formalized its regulation through the Presidency of the Republic’s Cyber Security Presidency, which prohibits social media providers from offering services to children under 15. Published in the Official Gazette on October 10, 2026, the rule applies to both domestic and foreign providers and takes effect on November 1, 2026. Age verification will be conducted via the e-Devlet gateway using a specific token that confirms age thresholds without revealing full identities. Existing accounts must complete verification by March 31, 2027, or face closure if the user is under 15. For users aged 15 to 17, the regulation mandates “differentiated services,” which include accounts being set to private by default, prohibitions on live streaming, and limitations on messaging to only those accounts they follow. These users must also be protected from personalized advertising, behavioral profiling, and infinite scrolling. Additionally, platforms must provide Turkish-language parental control tools for managing screen time, spending, and location sharing. While the regulation aims to mitigate risks like cyberbullying and harmful content, the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD) has raised concerns that mandatory identity verification could undermine online anonymity for all users. Authorities have also warned citizens to remain vigilant against fraudulent SMS and email messages claiming accounts will be closed to steal personal information.

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