Preparations for New Regulations on Games Begin in Turkey
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş announced that a new regulation is being prepared for games. What steps will be taken to protect children from digital risks?
In a special interview with Türkiye Newspaper, Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş drew attention to the negative effects of the digital world on children and announced that a new regulation regarding games is planned. Minister Göktaş emphasized that social media and gaming platforms cause significant problems for children, such as sleep disorders, depression, and lack of concentration.
The Minister, noting that the amount of time children spend in front of screens has reached uncontrollable levels, stated that the state is working on legal regulations to create a more secure and controlled digital environment.
- It has been determined that social media platforms reduce children’s concentration levels by 48 percent.
- The state is designing a more secure system that requires login via e-Government and does not involve data sharing.
- Following the restriction of access to platforms such as Roblox and Discord, new legal regulations are being planned for game content.
- The new regulation aims to separate content for the 15-18 age group.
Social Media Use Threatens Child Development.
According to Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş’s statements, children spend an average of more than 3.5 hours a day on digital platforms. The length of this time disrupts children’s daily biological rhythms and negatively affects their mental development processes.
Stating that children are unaware of their own screen time, Göktaş noted that ignorance about digital footprint also poses a great risk.
The Minister stated that families request support from the state when they are insufficient in protecting their children in the digital world, and that they provide digital literacy training and continue social awareness studies in this process.
A Safe Digital Ecosystem is Being Built
The main goal of the new regulation, which is under preparation, is to establish a more transparent and auditable structure by disabling systems where companies are endowed with unlimited powers. The Ministry, which is particularly sensitive to data security, prioritizes the protection of children’s personal data.
With e-Government integration, it aims to prevent children from accessing game and social media platforms and to prevent these platforms from engaging in data mining. This will allow children to spend time in a safer digital ecosystem.
Game Content Classified by Age Group
Another important study conducted at the ministerial level is the categorization of game content according to age groups. Determining content suitable for the developmental level of young people aged 15-18 and protecting this age group constitutes one of the most important aspects of the new regulation.
Court-ordered access restrictions applied to platforms such as Roblox and Discord are considered a sign that these types of platforms will be more strictly controlled.
Minister Göktaş stated that the technical details and implementation principles of the new regulation will be shared with the public very soon.
Do you think increasing controls on digital games and social media platforms is a sufficient step to ensure the safety of children? You can share your thoughts and family experiences on this matter with us in the comments section.
