15.10.2026 13:01
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş announced that there will be no social media access for those under 15. The age verification system integrated with e-Government is planned to take effect for new accounts as of November 1; all existing accounts will also undergo verification by March 31, 2027.
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş answered questions on current affairs on Habertürk TV live broadcast. Göktaş announced that children under the age of 15 will not have access to social media, and that the age verification system with e-Government is planned to enter into force for new accounts as of November 1.
AGE VERIFICATION WILL BE DONE THROUGH E-GOVERNMENT
In her assessment of the social media regulation for children, Minister Göktaş recalled that similar efforts are being carried out in European countries, especially the United Kingdom, France, and Spain, as well as in Latin American countries, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
Emphasizing that they have implemented the regulation to protect children from psychological, physiological, and developmental harms and to provide them with a safer digital environment, Göktaş said, "Those under the age of 15 will not have social media access. We did all of it through e-Government integration. We are implementing the age verification system with e-Government. With the regulation published last week, we also have a roadmap for how it will be done. It is planned to enter into force as of November 1 for new accounts. By March 31, 2027, all accounts will go through the age verification system."
EMERGENCY DISASTER AID FOR FLOOD VICTIMS
Göktaş reported that there will be a resource transfer through the social assistance and solidarity fund for citizens in provinces affected by excessive rainfall.
Wishing God's mercy on those who lost their lives due to the downpour that was effective in Istanbul, Göktaş conveyed her wishes for a speedy recovery to those affected by the disaster.
Stating that two families and one disabled citizen affected by the downpour in Sultangazi district were relocated to another area, Göktaş said that there were no adverse incidents in nursing homes, disabled care centers, and children's homes affiliated with the Ministry.
Noting that screening activities have begun in all households affected by the rainfall in Istanbul, Göktaş said, "As the Ministry of Family and Social Services, we will transfer resources within the scope of emergency disaster aid through the social assistance and solidarity fund. We have transferred our advance payment as soon as possible. We are in the field with our psychosocial support teams as well. With the resources we will transfer, we will provide support especially to our needy citizens affected by the disaster in the first stage. We are following the field very closely."
RESPONSE TO FUND CLAIMS: SLANDER
When asked about "New Party İzmir MP Ümit Özlale's claims regarding the fund investigation," Göktaş noted that they will follow the process before the law, and that the purpose of the claims in question is to smear her and conduct black propaganda.
Describing the claims as "slander" and emphasizing that she does not accept them, Göktaş expressed her wish that similar claims not be brought up again without concrete information and documents.
6 NEW NURSING HOMES, 349 PUBLIC NURSERIES
In response to a question about the Ministry's services for the elderly, Göktaş said that the number of people over the age of 65 in Turkey exceeds 9.5 million, this group constitutes 11.1 percent of the population, and 1.8 million elderly people live alone.
Stating that they provide services to nearly 30,000 elderly people in 493 nursing homes across the country, Göktaş noted that as the Ministry they will open 6 more new nursing homes with a capacity of 593 by the end of the year.
Underlining that they carry out efforts to strengthen the family, Minister Göktaş said, "In this context, as part of the family-friendly ecosystem, we are expanding the nursery mobilization throughout Turkey. This year alone, we opened 349 public nurseries. Each of our 690 ADEMs has a children's playroom. Our aim is to support working families and offer our non-working families safe environments where they can leave their children when needed."
Göktaş also evaluated the "İyilik Var" digital volunteering platform recently implemented by the Ministry, and invited citizens who want to do good to become members of the platform. Göktaş said, "We are a nation that heals as we do good. We need to spread goodness."