New details about the social media ban for people under 15. The date has been determined, these features will be removed

Pointing out that there are important points between the ages of 15 and 18, Minister Göktaş said, "For example, there will be no certain applications. There will be no screen scrolling or constant scrolling, which creates the element of screen addiction. In addition, they will not be able to make a screen copy, that is, a screen recording, and they will not be able to open a live broadcast." he said.

Göktaş also stated that there are regulations such as allowing the child to send messages only to accounts he/she follows and turning off the seen information.

"AGE VERIFICATION WILL NOT BE LIMITED ONLY TO ACCOUNT OPENING"

Stating that with this regulation, they have protected children up to the age of 18 from the social media environment, Minister Göktaş noted that the regulation is clearer than other countries and continued as follows:

"Because we have a strong system like e-Government. According to the new regulation, users who want to open an account on social media platforms for the first time will be directed to the e-Government system for age verification. The user will receive a digital code that verifies the information regarding his age through e-Government. Through this code, he will be able to create an account on the social media platform by completing the age verification process. Age verification will not be limited to account opening only. Social media platforms will continue to estimate the ages of users with their own technological methods and make the necessary checks while the service delivery continues."

“If there is suspicion that an account is being used by a child under the age of 15, the platform will temporarily suspend the account in question and direct the user to verify age again via e-Government.” Minister Göktaş stated, "Thus, a two-stage and continuous age verification mechanism will be applied both during account opening and usage processes in order to protect children from risks in the social media environment." he said.

Underlining that there will be a double-sided control mechanism in the regulation, Göktaş said, "Let's say the child enters with the account of his father and mother. Social media platforms will also be able to redirect from time to time. In other words, they will control it on the one hand, and we will control it on the other hand." he said.

Stating that their aim is to keep control at the maximum level, Minister Göktaş said, "We do not just entrust it to social media platforms, we control it ourselves. The data will be created entirely through e-government." he said.

FAMILIES' REQUEST WAS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION

Emphasizing that it is the request of families to remove features such as constant scrolling and screen scrolling, which create screen addiction in children, Göktaş said:

"It will come into force as of November 1, but we are going through a natural adaptation process. We are giving an adaptation period with a temporary provision until March 31, 2027. We have strictly informed these social media platforms. Here, we want to protect children and especially keep them away from addictive structures. At the design stage, we want to create a 'child-friendly ecosystem' structure. Because, for example, there was no screen scrolling at the beginning. They were developed later. There was no rewinding. Algorithms, for example... It is also part of our regulation that children are not exposed to constant advertising."

Göktaş stated that everything is clearly stated in the regulation and said that only users who confirm that they are over 15 years of age through e-Government can open an account on social media.