Turkey has announced a nationwide ban on social media use for individuals under the age of 15, set to take effect on November 1. The measure follows the adoption of a parliamentary law in April, aiming to shield children and teenagers from potential harms associated with online platforms.

The official state journal formalized the decision on Tuesday, outlining requirements for social media providers to implement technical and administrative safeguards, including age verification systems. The published report emphasized that services likely to create addictive effects among children must not be offered.

This move places Turkey among a group of countries imposing stricter regulations on young users’ access to social media. Nations such as Australia have already established similar restrictions, while the United Kingdom and France are actively pursuing comparable policies. These efforts generally seek to address digital risks affecting minors, including sleep disruption, cyberbullying, eating disorders, and excessive screen time.

Despite its stated goal to protect children, the new regulations in Turkey have drawn criticism from rights organizations. Concerns have been raised over potential infringements on freedom of expression, press liberties, and political dissent. In recent weeks, authorities have blocked numerous social media accounts, actions that critics argue may be connected to broader efforts to control the digital landscape.

Turkey’s social media ban reflects a global trend among governments responding to growing anxieties about the impact of digital technologies on younger populations, balancing those concerns with questions regarding censorship and individual rights.