Turkish minister calls for 13+ age limit on social media

Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu made a new statement on social media regulations, suggesting an age limit of 13 years old for social media users. Previously, discussions focused on an age limit of 16, but Uraloglu emphasized 13 as the key threshold.

Proposed age limit and parental consent for social media

In his announcement, Uraloglu stated that users aged 13 to 16 should require parental consent to access social media platforms, while those under 13 would be prohibited from using such platforms.

The minister highlighted that the proposal had been discussed extensively with relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Ministry of Justice.

“We have come to the conclusion that users aged between 13 and 16 should be subject to parental consent, and those under 13 should not be allowed access,” Uraloglu said.

He added that the proposal had been largely agreed upon and that it would soon be presented to the Turkish Parliament for further review. Uraloglu expressed confidence that the legislation would be passed within the year.

Collaboration with other ministries

Uraloglu noted that discussions with the Ministry of Family and Social Services and other relevant bodies had led to the development of a roadmap for the regulation.

He confirmed that preparations for the legal framework were underway, and the final proposal would be shared with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) group in the Turkish Parliament for approval.

Tracking Google’s algorithm changes

In a separate comment, Uraloglu addressed concerns related to Google’s algorithm changes. He explained that the ministry was closely monitoring the situation despite not having direct authority over Google.

“They have stated that these changes are not aimed at targeting anyone or providing advantages, but these assurances have not been entirely satisfactory,” Uraloglu explained.

He emphasized that the ministry was continuing to observe the developments and would coordinate with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for potential legal adjustments.