Meta Instagram teen update: Türkiye welcomes live stream parental consent rule
Smartphone with Facebook, Messenger, whatsApp, Instagram, Oculus apps and blurred META company logo on the background in Barnaul, Russia on November 3, 2021, accessed on 9 April, 2025. (Adobe Stock Photo)
Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu welcomed Meta’s new Instagram teen safety measures, which will now prevent users under 16 from going live without parental consent.
The minister said the move affirms Türkiye’s leadership in global digital policy development.
Türkiye praises Instagram’s teen safety policy change
In a social media post quoting Meta’s announcement, Uraloglu praised the platform’s decision to require parental permission before minors can access live-streaming features.
He called the decision a positive reflection of Türkiye’s efforts to implement stricter age restrictions and safety protocols in digital environments.
“This decision is highly valuable as it demonstrates that the comprehensive efforts carried out by our Ministry have been acknowledged by international platforms and that our policies have found a response on a global scale,” Uraloglu said.
Meta’s decision aligns with Türkiye’s national policy draft
Uraloglu noted that the change closely aligns with Türkiye’s own draft legislation focused on “social media age restriction,” which has been under development with the goal of protecting minors online.
He emphasized that such alignment underscores the effectiveness of national-level initiatives in influencing global tech standards.
“As AK Party governments, one of our top priorities has been ensuring the safety of children and young people in digital platforms,” he stated. “We welcome Meta’s decision in parallel with our carefully developed social media age restriction draft.”
New features aim to minimize online risk for teens
Uraloglu pointed out that Meta’s update goes beyond live stream restrictions. It also includes automatic blurring of explicit or suspicious images in private messages—an option that under-16 users cannot disable.
“These are highly important steps designed to minimize online risks,” Uraloglu added.
“With the vision of the Century of Türkiye, we are mobilizing all our resources so that our children can exist in the digital sphere in a strong, free, yet also safe manner,” he said.
Türkiye to continue cooperation with global tech companies
Uraloglu said Türkiye will continue to develop protective digital policies and maintain cooperation with international technology firms.
He added that the government aims to become a global leader in digital safety standards.
“We will continue to develop national-level protective digital policies and act in cooperation with global technology giants,” he said.
“Thanks to our determination in this field, we are progressing confidently towards becoming a country that not only protects its own users but also sets the global standards,” he added.
Meta to expand teen safety features across platforms
Meta announced earlier this week that the new safety rules would apply to its “Teen Accounts” segment on Instagram.
The company confirmed that users under 16 will not be able to start live broadcasts without parental approval and will be unable to disable the default blurring of explicit content in private messages.
The safety features are expected to expand to other platforms, including Facebook and Messenger.
According to Meta, testing will begin in the coming months in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
