Türkiye to impose strict new regulations on social media, gaming platforms

The government of Türkiye is preparing a comprehensive legislative proposal to regulate digital platforms and restrict social media access for minors.

Ruling AK Party (AKP) aims to mandate local representation for gaming companies and implement strict age-verification systems for users under the age of 15.

Proponents of the law claim that these measures will increase platform accountability while granting parents greater oversight of their children's digital footprints.

Gaming companies in Türkiye shift focus from user growth to player engagement, accessed on February 18, 2026. (Adobe Stock Photo)

New requirements for gaming distributors in Türkiye

Under the proposed law, digital game distributors operating in Türkiye must appoint an official local representative.

This measure ensures that the Turkish government has a direct point of contact for legal and regulatory matters.

Companies that fail to comply with this requirement within 30 days of the law's enactment will face significant legal consequences.

Sanctions for non-compliance include:

• Administrative fines: Financial penalties of up to ₺30 million (over $680,000).
• Bandwidth reduction: The government may implement "bandwidth throttling" on the platform’s internet traffic, making the service significantly slower and harder to access for users in Türkiye.

The regulation also places a heavy burden of security on the platforms.

Companies will be legally obligated to actively detect and block advertisements designed for fraudulent purposes, protecting users from financial scams.

Photo shows a group of children using smartphones in a school corridor, highlighting the role of social media, gaming, technology, and education in their daily lives. (Adobe Stock Photo)

Social media restrictions for children under 15

A major pillar of the proposal focuses on limiting social media use for children under 15.

While the proponents claim that the primary goal is to protect younger users, the technical methods for age verification remain a point of debate.

Government officials are currently cautious about relying solely on algorithm-based age estimation. Sources suggest these systems have a margin of error that could mistakenly block older teens or allow younger children access.

To address this, the specific details regarding how age verification will function will be clarified in a secondary set of regulations, as reported by Türkiye Daily. These future guidelines will establish the exact verification methods platforms must adopt.

Social media applications including X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Messenger, Telegram, and WhatsApp are displayed on a smartphone screen in Moscow, Russia, July 29, 2023. (Adobe Stock Photo)

Mandatory parental control mechanisms

The legislation seeks to shift more oversight power to parents through mandatory digital tools.

Social media and gaming platforms must provide features that allow parents to monitor and restrict activity.

The planned parental control tools include:

• Transaction approvals: Parents must approve all purchases, rentals, and paid memberships.
• Screen time management: Tools to monitor usage duration and set hard limits on daily play or browsing time.
• Account settings: Direct parental control over privacy settings and profile visibility.
• Content rating: New systems will be developed to grade game content based on age-appropriate criteria, ensuring children only access suitable material.

The government also plans to increase inspections of platforms that violate these legal standards.

This includes stricter oversight of illegal content and ensuring that age-based ratings are followed. Authorities aim to ensure that digital environments for children are both safe and transparent.

March 06, 2026 12:26 PM GMT+03:00