Digital Representative and Age Limit Era

The Action Plan is built on four main pillars: awareness and education, protective mechanisms, intervention in risks, and the strengthening of legal regulations. According to 2024 TurkStat data, the internet usage rate among children has reached 91.3%. Within this framework, it is planned to add digital literacy lessons to the curriculum, establish a “digital monitoring system,” and introduce new obligations for social network providers.

Although a formal "draft law" has not yet been published by official authorities, the Turkish Game Developers Association (TOGED) shared important statements regarding the draft text concerning social media and gaming regulations currently being discussed by the public.

Mandatory Representation and Sanctions for Platforms

Leaked information about the draft includes sanctions that will directly affect major gaming platforms like Steam and Epic Games. The process will operate as follows:

• ✓ Foreign game distributors will be required to have an official representative in Türkiye.
• ✓ Those who fail to appoint a representative will face administrative fines ranging from 1 million TL to 30 million TL.
• ✓ In case of continued violation, bandwidth throttling sanctions of 50% and 90% will be applied.

One of the most debated topics in the industry is the status of middleware like Ubisoft Connect, Rockstar Games, or EA App, which operate through launcher systems. If these platforms do not appoint representatives and are subjected to bandwidth throttling, the possibility arises that users may not even be able to access games they purchased via Steam.

Age Verification and Social Media Restrictions

The most radical regulation in the draft is the age-based access restrictions. The measures planned for children's safety include:

• ✓ Children under 15 are completely prohibited from opening social media accounts, even with parental consent.
• ✓ Age verification systems such as facial recognition and identity verification are becoming mandatory.
• ✓ A "differentiated service" model under parental supervision will be offered for the 15–17 age group.
• ✓ Restrictions may be imposed on internet and game usage during night hours for those under 18.

Furthermore, platforms are expected to mandatory offer parental control tools that monitor and limit usage time. In particular, the instant management of gaming and social media durations through parental panels is among the notable regulations of the draft.

Shared by Att. Adnan Şahan Contact Us