Turkey Bans Social Media for Kids Under 15

Turkey's parliament voted late Wednesday to ban social media use for anyone under 15 years old. The new law also puts stricter rules on digital platforms and video game companies.

The Turkish government says the ban will protect children from online dangers like social media addiction, cyberbullying, and companies trying to exploit kids for profit.

But critics are worried the law goes too far. They say it could threaten free speech rights and make it harder to keep personal information private online. The law still needs to be signed by Turkey's president to become official.

Turkey joins a growing list of countries trying to limit kids' access to social media. Australia recently passed similar rules, and several U.S. states are considering age limits for platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

The debate reflects a bigger question facing parents and governments worldwide: how to protect children online without limiting their freedoms or access to information.