The Ministry of Family and Social Services is preparing to submit a legal regulation foreseeing the limitation of social media use for children under 15 to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey by the end of the month. The 'age limit on social media' practice, which started to be discussed globally with the Australian example, has also risen to the top of the agenda in Turkey.
Stating that a social media restriction for those under 15 can be seen as a preventative step to protect children from the most problematic aspects of digital environments, Assist. Prof. Dr. Duygu Temel, said, “Considering the concerns raised by parents and educators for a long time, this regulation also shows that the state is trying to take a more active role in the safety of children in the digital world.”
Emphasizing that approaching the issue solely through “prohibition” will not be sufficient, Dr. Temel added, “Social media is also an area for children to socialize, establish a sense of belonging, and express themselves. Therefore, such a regulation should not be considered with a strict and punitive approach, but rather with policies that protect children while strengthening digital media literacy and critical media use.”
Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, announced that the legal regulation foreseeing the limitation of social media use for children under 15 will be submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey at the end of this month. The "age limit on social media" practice, which started to be discussed globally with the Australian example, has also entered Turkey's agenda.
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication, Department of Journalism Assist. Prof. Dr. Duygu Temel, evaluated the "age limit on social media" practice.
Algorithms are increasingly directing children to more risky content
Pointing out that social media has been in our lives for approximately 20 years, Assist. Prof. Dr. Duygu Temel, stated that its effects on children have become much more visible, and made the following assessment:
“After approximately 20 years with social media, the effects of these platforms on children have become much more visible and debatable. We know that algorithms direct users to similar and increasingly extreme content; there is extensive research on this. This structure, which can be problematic even for adults, can lead to much riskier outcomes for children and adolescents. For instance, images and videos focusing on body image, especially among young girls, can increase appearance anxieties and create risks leading to eating disorders due to the influence of algorithms. From this perspective, a social media restriction for those under 15 can be seen as a preventative step to protect children from the most problematic aspects of digital environments. Considering the concerns raised by parents and educators for a long time, this regulation also shows that the state is trying to take a more active role in the safety of children in the digital world.”
Prohibition alone is not enough
However, Assist. Prof. Dr. Duygu Temel emphasized that approaching the issue solely through “prohibition” will not be sufficient, and reminded that social media is not just about risks for children and young people, adding: “Social media is also an area for children to socialize, establish a sense of belonging, and express themselves. Therefore, such a regulation should not be considered with a strict and punitive approach, but rather with policies that protect children while strengthening digital media literacy and critical media use.”
Not a break from the screen, but a digital migration could be experienced
Pointing out that significant transformations in children's media usage habits could occur if the regulation comes into effect, Assist. Prof. Dr. Duygu Temel, stated that this process would not mean a “complete disconnection from the screen” and noted the following:
“If this regulation comes into effect, it is more likely for children to experience a digital migration rather than a complete disconnection from screens. With the postponement of social media use, children may turn more towards messaging applications, gaming platforms, and video content. This could lead to a more fragmented media usage structure with more frequent transitions between platforms. At the same time, encountering social media at a later age could contribute to some children developing more conscious and controlled usage habits. However, for this transformation to be permanent and healthy, it depends on being supported by media literacy and guidance mechanisms that will enable children to critically understand the digital world.”
In the Australian example, accounts under 16 were closed
Pointing out that Australia is one of the most striking examples in this field globally, Assist. Prof. Dr. Duygu Temel, shared the following information regarding Meta's decisions in line with the law enacted by the Australian government:
“Australia has imposed an obligation on social media companies to prevent children under 16 from having accounts on their platforms, effective from December 10, 2025. The purpose of the regulation is to increase children's online safety and reduce the risk of encountering harmful content. Although Meta announced that it does not agree with this regulation, it declared its compliance with the law and began gradually closing Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts identified as belonging to users under 16 in Australia starting from December 4.”
10 platforms under obligation
Stating that the regulation in Australia does not only cover Meta, Assist. Prof. Dr. Duygu Temel, stated that a total of 10 social media platforms are facing similar obligations, and said: “In addition to Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, a total of 10 platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, X, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick, are obliged to block or close accounts of users under 16. Platforms must take ‘reasonable steps’ for age verification; otherwise, high monetary penalties will apply.”
Responsibility shifts from parents to platforms
Emphasizing that one of the most important aspects of such regulations is moving children's online safety beyond individual parental supervision, Assist. Prof. Dr. Duygu Temel, concluded her words as follows:
“For a long time, harmful content, cyberbullying, or posts that could negatively affect mental health, to which children are exposed on social media, have been discussed; but often the solution remained at ‘families should be careful’. However, the Australian regulation changes this approach by holding the companies that design these environments more clearly accountable. Concerns about early and intensive social media use putting pressure on children are also among the main reasons behind this decision. The limit introduced for those under 16 aims not to completely disconnect children from the digital world, but to offer a more controlled and safer online experience. Australia is the first country to enact a comprehensive nationwide law to limit children's social media use. In this respect, it could serve as an important reference for other countries.”