Gold 101.3 FM, UAE’s No.1 Malayalam radio station, reports that Turkish lawmakers have approved a new bill banning social media access for children under the age of 15, in a move aimed at strengthening online child protection measures.
According to state media reports, the legislation was passed late Wednesday and now awaits approval from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is expected to sign it into law within 15 days.
The new rules require social media companies to introduce strict age-verification systems and provide enhanced parental control features. Platforms will also be responsible for the rapid detection and removal of content considered harmful to minors, in line with government guidelines.
The decision comes amid growing concern over children’s exposure to harmful online material, and follows a recent tragic school shooting in Kahramanmaras, southern Türkiye, where a 14-year-old attacker killed nine students and a teacher before taking his own life. Authorities are currently investigating the suspect’s online activity as part of the case.
President Erdogan has previously warned about the impact of digital platforms on young people, stating that some social media environments are negatively influencing children’s behaviour and development.
However, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has criticised the legislation, arguing that protecting children should focus on rights-based policies rather than restrictive bans.
The law marks one of Turkey’s strongest steps yet toward regulating children’s access to digital platforms.
