Stories from Ankara · Turkey

The Turkish Parliament has voted in favor of a new law banning social media use for children under the age of 15. The legislation aims to regulate digital exposure for minors across the country. This move marks a significant step in Turkey's efforts to control online content consumption for younger demographics. Turkey is drafting legislation to ban children under 15 from using TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook. The law is expected to be voted on in parliament during the second half of 2026. If passed, the restrictions are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. Officials stated they are taking steps to increase the scope of preventative measures. A social risk map has been activated to help identify such cases early. The announcement was reported by Anadolu Agency.

Turkish officials are engaging in intensive diplomatic negotiations involving the UK and the US. The movement suggests a significant shift or intensification in regional diplomatic traffic. Minister Bolattan is conducting high-level diplomatic negotiations involving Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom.

The Turkish Grand National Assembly has passed a law banning social media access for users under the age of 15. Authorities are increasing precautionary measures and implementing a social risk assessment to prevent early exposure to digital risks. The initiative aims to increase preventative measures in cases where families remain indifferent to digital risks. The system will be managed through the Presidency of Security. Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş stated that a new regulation will be issued within six months. The measure aims to prevent digital and technology companies from leaving users to the discretion of algorithms. Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi also discussed a new security paradigm to combat drug trafficking by closing paths to crime.

Ukraine has formally requested that Turkey serve as the host for upcoming peace negotiations between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The proposal aims to find a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict through Turkish mediation. This move highlights the increasing pressure for a structured dialogue between the two warring nations. Turkey hosted an international meeting in Ankara to strengthen the protection of children in digital environments. The event was co-hosted by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Family and Social Services, UNICEF, and the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative on Violence Against Children. The meeting focused on global dialogue regarding digital safety for minors.

Minister Mustafa Çiftçi announced the implementation of a student-based risk analysis system following recent school attacks. The plan aims to move away from the current model of assigning two police officers to every school, which is deemed unsustainable for 75,000 schools. Security personnel may be provided through service procurement or general budget allocations to ensure long-term sustainability. The Turkish Ministry has issued a directive to redesign school risk assessments using a scoring system for provinces. The new analysis includes digital risks such as cyberbullying, social media targeting, and violent content. Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms will be established for students identified within high-risk groups. A guideline has been sent to provinces regarding how risk scores will be calculated.