Newsletters
A new parliamentary study reveals that the vast majority of Turkish youth maintain social media accounts without their parents' knowledge.
Members of the Parliamentary Commission on Children Dragged into Crime met in Ankara on March 3 to discuss the evolving digital habits of the younger generation and the risks associated with online platforms.
The commission, chaired by the ruling AK Party Istanbul Deputy Pervin Tuba Durgut, opened the session by honoring Fatma Nur Celik.
A 17-year-old student recently killed the teacher in Istanbul’s Cekmekoy district. Durgut described the incident as a "societal alarm" and called for deterrent measures to prevent similar tragedies.
Data shared by Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) Vice President Deniz Guler shows a sharp decline in traditional media consumption among young people aged 15 to 21.
A survey of 7,500 youth across 26 provinces highlights how digital platforms have replaced television:
The research uncovered a significant gap between parental supervision and actual youth behavior. While 90% of surveyed youth own social media accounts, most hide their true online presence from their families.
"The most striking result is that the rate of those who have accounts unknown to their families is 82%," Guler told the commission.
He explained that parents often believe they are monitoring their children by following one known account, while the youth continue to use separate, secret profiles. This behavior effectively bypasses traditional parental control mechanisms.
Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) Vice President Abdulkerim Gun informed the commission about the rising illegality in mobile applications. He stated that the majority of complaints sent to their reporting center involve child sexual abuse, illegal betting, and gambling.
Gun offered a blunt assessment of current video calling applications. "I can say that 100% of video calling applications have officially turned into OnlyFans," Gun said, referring to the platform known for adult content.
He noted that authorities have already closed more than 30 such applications. While the BTK does not have the authority to act unilaterally, it works with law enforcement to issue access bans on problematic content.
The survey also measured digital literacy and attitudes toward regulation. Only 57% of participants showed high levels of digital literacy, leaving 43% with medium or low skills. RTUK officials warned that this lack of literacy creates a gap in "digital self-defense."
Surprisingly, the youth themselves expressed a desire for more regulation. When asked if social media should have an age limit, 88% of participants answered "yes." The average recommended age for these platforms was 16.
Guler noted that Türkiye is currently discussing regulations that align with international standards, which typically set age limits between 15 and 16.
RTUK is preparing new tools to combat violence and unethical content on television.
In response to criticism from lawmakers regarding daytime programming and news bulletins, Guler announced a partnership with journalists to create a new ethical guide for news reporting.
Additionally, the council plans to implement technological solutions for live broadcasts. RTUK will use artificial intelligence to detect and monitor instances of violence in real-time during daytime shows.
This measure aims to provide immediate oversight for programs that frequently feature controversial or harmful content.
The commission, which was originally scheduled to complete its work by March 10, will request an extension to continue its investigation into youth safety and media.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
4 min read
