ISTANBUL: Turkey has formally announced a ban on social media use by children under 15, with the restrictions set to take effect on November 1 following the publication of the decision in the country’s official state journal.
The measure follows legislation passed by parliament in April, requiring social media providers to introduce safeguards for younger users, including age-verification systems and other technical and administrative measures.
The law also states that services likely to produce addictive effects in children must not be offered to them.
Turkey’s move comes as several countries consider or introduce similar restrictions. Australia has adopted limits on children’s access to social media, while Britain and France are also pursuing measures aimed at protecting young users from online risks, including cyberbullying, sleep disruption and harmful content.
However, rights groups have raised concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression in Turkey, where social media accounts have recently been blocked amid broader disputes involving media organisations, political opposition groups and LGBTQ communities.