28.04.2026 20:25
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş announced that the social media regulation for the protection of children will take effect within 6 months. Stating that an age verification system will be implemented, Göktaş emphasized that their goal is supervision, not prohibition. The regulation also includes entering social media by verifying identity through e-Government.
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, in her statements at the Anadolu Agency Editor's Desk, gave important messages regarding the social media regulation that has been discussed for months. Göktaş stated that the social media regulation in Turkey will effectively come into force within 6 months with the prepared regulation.
Stating that they will not leave children to the uncontrolled influence of digital platforms, Göktaş said, "We will not leave our children at the mercy of big companies and algorithms."
"PURPOSE IS NOT TO BAN, BUT TO SUPERVISE"
Göktaş, stating that the main goal of the new regulation is not a ban, expressed that they want to strengthen the supervision mechanism. Emphasizing that direct communication will be established with social media platforms, Göktaş said, "Our aim is to find an interlocutor and convey our sensitivities."
Announcing that an age verification system will be implemented within the scope of the regulation, Göktaş stated that they aim for children to be in a safer digital environment. Noting that 10 percent of children have contacted strangers at least once, Göktaş stated that families should also be actively involved in the process.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SUPPORTED MODEL AGAINST SCHOOL ATTACKS
Speaking about attacks on schools, Göktaş announced that they will activate the social risk map they have been working on for a long time. Stating that they aim to protect children at risk through both physical and artificial intelligence-supported measures, Göktaş stated that they have established a system that will take precautions before incidents occur.
DRAWS ATTENTION TO POPULATION DATA
Göktaş, emphasizing that Turkey must maintain its young population advantage, drew attention to the decline in the fertility rate. Noting that according to TÜİK data, a decrease of 900,000 is expected in the number of primary school-age children in the next 5 years, Göktaş stated that social policies are being implemented rapidly for this reason.
WHAT DOES THE SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION INCLUDE?
According to the draft legal regulation targeting social media, where cybercrimes, especially disinformation, are rapidly increasing, identity verification via e-Government will be required to access platforms. Internet users will be able to enter applications with a 'personal key' generated by e-Government. The system will be designed to protect personal data, and identity information will be kept within the BTK. Social media platforms will be obliged to provide the real identity information of accounts disseminating content subject to catalog crimes to judicial authorities within 30 days at the latest if requested.
PENALTY FOR NON-COMPLIANCE
Gradual and severe sanctions are envisaged for social network providers that do not fulfill the identity verification obligation: Administrative fines of up to 3 percent of global turnover. Advertising ban. Reduction of internet traffic bandwidth from 50 percent to 90 percent.
The regulation aims to facilitate the identification of perpetrators of crimes and establish a much safer digital environment for real users. It aims to prevent bot and fake accounts and allow only real individuals to register.
According to the regulation submitted to the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on March 4, social network providers will not be able to offer services to children under the age of 15. Platforms will need to take necessary measures, including age verification, to implement this ban. The proposal also stipulates providing services differentiated from the adult user experience for children over the age of 15 and providing tools that enable parents or guardians to monitor children's online activities, manage usage time, and control account settings.