Age limit for social media: Social media ban for children is coming

In recent days, the negative examples of social media and their effects on children have been a topic of discussion. Implementing an age limit for social media is also on Turkey's agenda as one of the methods planned to address this situation.

What the age limit will be has not yet been finalized. However, within the framework of expert reports, the view that the limit should be 16 is gaining weight. Government opinions also appear to support these decisions.

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu recently made statements regarding social media restrictions. Uraloğlu had used the expressions, "13 is an age more widely accepted globally. My personal opinion is 16, but no decision has been made yet."

Minister Uraloğlu stated, “I do not like the word ban; it is a regulation, perhaps introducing access restrictions. The definition of a restriction may also change, but many regulations have been made worldwide using the 13-year-old age limit criterion, and there are preparations for more. Some regulations regarding the age of 16 have been made. We are also discussing this issue in Turkey. 13 is an age more widely accepted globally. 16 is also being discussed."

Uraloğlu also said that blocking access to the digital environment is not in question.

Speaking about social media restrictions at the Parliament, where she arrived to attend the 90th Anniversary Program of Turkish Women's Right to Vote and Stand for Election, Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş said, "Our children can be exposed to many different types of harmful content and peer bullying. Therefore, it is our duty to both protect our children from the risks of the digital world and ensure their conscious consumption."