Azerbaijan to Ban Social Media Registration for Under-16s

Azerbaijan is set to prohibit individuals under the age of 16 from registering on social media platforms. The country's parliament has passed amendments to its Code of Administrative Offenses and laws concerning information protection, which will enforce this new age restriction.

Under the new regulations, social media platforms will be required to implement sequential age verification methods. Initially, users will declare their age, followed by a confirmation process. The specific list of platforms subject to these new requirements will be determined and published later. For users aged 16 to 18, parental consent will be necessary, confirmed through banking details, email addresses, and mobile phone numbers.

The responsibility for enforcing these laws will fall on platform administrators. Users will be obligated to provide their age, and services must verify this information. Internet providers will also be tasked with monitoring user behavior online and conducting checks if they suspect a user has provided an incorrect age.

This move by Azerbaijan aligns with similar initiatives in other countries. The United Kingdom is also considering a ban on social media use for children under 16. The United Arab Emirates has prohibited children under 15 from creating social media accounts, a rule also in effect in Turkey. Kazakhstan has banned smartphones in schools.

“

For teenagers aged 16-18, consent from a legal representative will also be required, confirmed using bank card details, email address, and mobile phone number.