The Turkish Parliament has approved a new law aimed at limiting social media access for children under the age of 15. This decision comes just a week after a tragic school shooting in Kahramanmaraş, where eight students and a teacher lost their lives.
Authorities are currently investigating the online activities of the shooter, a former eighth-grade student, to understand the motives behind the attack. The new legislation mandates that social media platforms implement age verification systems, provide parental control tools, and promptly address harmful content.
Major digital platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, will be required to prevent users under 15 from creating accounts and to enforce parental controls. Online gaming companies must appoint a local representative in Turkey to ensure compliance with these regulations. Potential penalties for non-compliance include restrictions on internet bandwidth and fines imposed by Turkey’s telecommunications regulator.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to sign the bill into law within 15 days for it to take effect. Following the recent incidents in Kahramanmaraş, he emphasized the need to mitigate online risks to children’s safety and privacy.
“We live in a time when some digital applications corrupt our children’s minds, and social media platforms, frankly, have become cesspools,” Erdoğan stated in a televised address.
The opposition Republican People’s Party has criticized this initiative, arguing that children should be protected through rights-based policies rather than prohibitions.
Recent School Shootings in Turkey
On April 14, a shooting occurred at a school in Şanlıurfa, injuring 16 individuals, with the assailant identified as a former student. The following day, another shooting took place at a secondary school in Kahramanmaraş, resulting in the deaths of eight students and a teacher, along with twenty others injured. The shooter reportedly entered the school armed with five weapons, believed to have been taken from his father, a former police officer. After initially firing shots into the air outside, he moved inside the building and ultimately died during the incident, while his parents were taken into custody by the police.
Global Trends on Social Media Restrictions for Minors
Turkey’s new law reflects a growing trend among various countries to impose restrictions on social media access for minors. In November 2025, Australia enacted similar legislation, prompting discussions in several EU countries regarding data protection directives.
Germany is preparing to implement age restrictions on social media, prohibiting users under 14 years old from accessing these platforms, while teenagers aged 14 to 16 will have limited access to appropriate content. A joint proposal from the Social Democrats and conservatives is expected to be approved by the German Cabinet this year.
Greece is also drafting proposals to restrict social media use for those under 15, with plans to present relevant documents this spring. The Prime Minister has cited concerns over the impact of social media on children’s mental health.
In Poland, a bill is being promoted to ban social media access for children under 15, with penalties for platforms that violate this rule. The Education Minister has indicated that this law may come into effect by early 2027.
Similar initiatives are under consideration in the Czech Republic and Slovenia, while Indonesia has already introduced restrictions for children under 16 in Southeast Asia.
On April 10, Lithuanian lawmakers supported amendments to a law that would restrict minors’ access to social media, allowing those under 16 to register only with verified parental consent.
Turkey's Parliament has passed a law restricting social media access for children under 15, following recent school shootings. The legislation mandates age verification and parental controls on major platforms, reflecting a growing global trend towards protecting minors online.