Turkish lawmakers on Tuesday began debating a draft law package that seeks to limit children under 15 from accessing social media platforms, making Turkey the latest country to introduce measures aimed at protecting young people from online risks.

If passed, the bill would require social media companies to implement age-verification systems, provide parental control tools, and respond quickly to content deemed harmful. The duration of the parliamentary debate remains uncertain.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government says the proposal is designed to safeguard children’s safety and privacy online. “Protecting our children from all kinds of risks, threats and harmful content is our top priority,” said Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas, Turkey’s minister for family and social services.

The main opposition, Republican People’s Party (CHP), criticized the measure, arguing that children should be protected “not with bans but with rights-based policies.”

Under the draft law, platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram would be required to block children under 15 from creating accounts and introduce parental controls. Online game companies must also appoint a local representative to ensure compliance. Penalties could include fines and internet bandwidth reductions imposed by Turkey’s communications watchdog.

Turkey has previously restricted online platforms amid political dissent, including last year’s protests supporting jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Similar restrictions for children exist in countries such as Australia, Indonesia, Spain, France, and the UK, reflecting global concern over unregulated social media exposure.