Age Limit of 15 on Social Media: What Will the New Regulation Change?

A new era is beginning in efforts to improve children's safety on social media. The regulation published in Türkiye's Official Gazette on October 10, 2026, introduces new obligations for social media platforms regarding age verification, the protection of children, and the processing of personal data.

Under the regulation, which will come into effect on November 1, 2026, social media use will be restricted for children under the age of 15, while new rules will also apply to users aged 15–17.

So, what will the new regulation change? How will the responsibilities of social media platforms evolve, and how will brands be affected by these changes?

We asked Esin Yüce, Legal Counsel at IQUEEM, about the scope of the new regulation, the obligations it introduces, and its implications for the digital world.

Will Accounts Belonging to Users Under 15 Be Closed?

One of the most significant provisions of the new regulation is that social network providers will no longer be permitted to offer their services to children under the age of 15.

The regulation applies not only to newly created accounts but also to existing users. Social media platforms must complete age verification procedures for existing accounts by March 31, 2027. Accounts belonging to users identified as being under 15 will be closed during this process.

Age verification will be carried out using a verification token generated through Türkiye's e-Government Gateway (e-Devlet). Rather than gaining direct access to users' identity information, social media platforms will only be able to determine whether users meet the age thresholds of 15 and 18.

This approach aims to make age verification more reliable while protecting users' personal data.

How Will Social Media Use Change for Users Aged 15–17?

Users who have turned 15 but are not yet 18 will still be able to use social media platforms. However, the services available to this age group will be subject to different rules from those applied to adult users.

Under the new regulation, children's accounts will be private by default and cannot be made public. Live streaming will be disabled, messaging will be limited to accounts they follow, and follower lists will be hidden from other users.

In addition, personalized advertising based on children's behavior will be prohibited. Certain content feed and engagement features designed to keep users on platforms for extended periods will also be restricted.

These changes aim to reduce the risks children may encounter online and establish a social media environment appropriate for their age.

Social Media Platforms Face Greater Responsibilities

The regulation introduces more comprehensive responsibilities for social media companies regarding children's digital safety.

In addition to implementing age verification, platforms will be required to adopt technical and administrative measures to protect children. Parental control tools will also be made available, allowing parents to manage their children's digital activities.

Through these tools, families will be able to manage their children's account settings, limit social media usage time, and establish approval mechanisms for paid transactions carried out through the platforms.

Covering both domestic and international social network providers accessible from Türkiye, the regulation aims to ensure that children's online safety is not solely the responsibility of parents, but also requires platforms to take an active role.

Why Is Personal Data Protection Important?

The new age verification system also raises important questions regarding the protection of personal data.

Beyond reliably verifying users' ages, it is equally important to consider what data is processed during this procedure, how it is protected, and for what purposes it is used.

The approach adopted by the regulation focuses on verifying whether users meet the required age thresholds rather than sharing their identity information with social media platforms. This system can be considered an important step toward data minimization and information security.

However, the regulation's success will depend on how effectively these requirements are implemented and how efficiently the relevant oversight mechanisms operate.

How Will the New Regulation Affect Brands and Digital Advertising?

Age restrictions on social media use concern not only individual users and platforms but also brands operating through these channels.

In particular, the prohibition of personalized advertising targeting users aged 15–17 represents a significant change in digital advertising targeting and audience segmentation.

Brands and advertisers will need to reassess their audience targeting, advertising content, and data usage practices in digital campaigns involving younger users.

Three key areas stand out from a digital marketing perspective:

• Audience targeting strategies: Reviewing age-based advertising targeting practices to ensure compliance with the new regulation.
• Data usage and personalization: Restricting behavioral targeting and personalized advertising practices based on children's user data.
• Content and campaign planning: Planning brands' social media communications in accordance with platform rules and content restrictions applicable to different age groups.

These changes indicate that user safety and data privacy will become increasingly important in digital marketing strategies, alongside reach and performance.

A Safer Future in the Digital World

The new regulation on social media use represents an important step toward protecting children in digital environments. With mandatory age verification, privacy measures, and parental control tools, the responsibilities of social media platforms are expanding.

For brands, this development also requires digital communication and advertising strategies to adapt to evolving legal requirements.

In the coming period, how social media platforms implement the new rules, how user behavior changes, and how advertising technologies adapt to these developments will remain important topics on the digital marketing agenda.