Starting November 1, 2026, Türkiye will enforce new regulations that restrict social media usage for individuals under the age of 15. This initiative requires all platforms to verify a new user’s age through the state’s e-government portal, e-Devlet, with existing accounts needing verification completed by March 31, 2027. This regulation stems from concerns about “digital chaos” involving issues like cyberbullying, misinformation, identity theft, and illegal online gambling, as stated by Turkish officials.
New Age Verification Rules
In addition to the age restrictions, the law mandates stricter privacy measures for users aged 15 to 17. Platforms must adjust account settings to limit messaging capabilities solely to followers, eliminate read receipts, and restrict personalized advertising. One notable aspect of this regulation includes the obligation for social media companies to implement technical methods to prevent users from taking screenshots of profiles and posts belonging to teenagers.
The age verification system introduced by Türkiye’s government operates on a tokenized model. This means that a user’s age is confirmed with minimal information; specifically, it only indicates whether the user is above 15 or 18 without revealing any personal details. If any social media platform suspects that an account violates these age limitations, it is required to suspend the account until verification is completed. Furthermore, platforms must provide an appeals process for users affected by age verification or account suspension, ensuring that appeals can be submitted in Turkish and undergo human review.
Targeting Addictive Features
The new regulations also respond to growing concerns about addictive designs within social media platforms, which have come under scrutiny from lawmakers worldwide. Features like infinite scrolling, autoplay, and algorithmically curated feeds will be banned, as they often lead to compulsive usage patterns. Türkiye’s law specifically prohibits the use of personal data for user profiling purposes. Violations may attract penalties, although enforcing compliance has proven challenging in other regions, where social media companies often argue that effective age verification technologies are inadequate.
The media’s increasing focus on harmful design elements signifies a broader global movement advocating for a “digital duty of care.” This concept holds social media platforms accountable for ensuring user safety and preventing potential harm, especially to children. Legislation aims to address the problem of creating deceptively addictive products that engage young users, thus holding social media companies responsible for their design choices.
The Future of Social Media Without Addictive Elements
The question remains: Can social media platforms survive without addictive features? In a recent interview, Arturo Béjar, a former Meta employee, suggested that the original intention behind social media was to facilitate connections among users. However, over time, features that might be deemed harmful became central to the platforms’ functionalities.
As regulations target addictive traits and restrict user profiling, the landscape of social media may shift significantly. Many industry experts question the need for platforms that rely on addiction for viability. If social media companies can neither entice young users with addictive features nor gather extensive personal data, the fundamental purpose of these platforms might come under serious scrutiny. In this evolving environment, both consumers and regulators will likely demand a re-evaluation of what social media is and what it should deliver.