ISTANBUL: Türkiye is preparing to introduce new regulations to protect children on social media platforms, the country’s family and social services minister said on Sunday, citing concerns about declining attention spans and digital overexposure.
Writing on the domestic platform NSosyal, Minister Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas said the government was close to implementing the measures.
“Just like many countries around the world, we are very close to implementing social media regulations aimed at protecting our children,” she said.
Goktas warned that average attention spans have fallen to around eight seconds, a trend she said disproportionately affects children. She added that children’s attention spans have declined by at least 30 percent over the past decade, affecting their concentration, friendships, and academic performance.
The minister said the shift has also made teaching more difficult and noted that several countries are debating or rolling out similar restrictions targeting children’s social media use.
Türkiye is working to create a safer online environment for minors, she said, calling on parents and educators to support the initiative.
Governments worldwide are moving toward stricter age-based restrictions on social media, particularly for users under 16, amid mounting concerns over mental health, online safety, and excessive screen exposure.
Australia became the first country to implement a nationwide minimum age of 16 for social media accounts in December 2025, applying to major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube, with heavy fines for non-compliance.
In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has launched a consultation on a potential ban for under-16s, while Greece and Spain are considering similar measures.
Elsewhere, Russia has taken a different approach, blocking WhatsApp and steering users toward state-backed alternatives.
In Pakistan, lawmakers are weighing legislation requiring stricter age verification for minors, while the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has previously imposed temporary bans on platforms over content concerns.
The developments reflect a broader global shift toward tighter regulation of children’s digital access.
