HÜDA PAR Mersin MP Faruk Dinç has demanded stricter age restrictions and compulsory identity verification on social media and online gaming platforms in order to protect children and adolescents from cyberbullying, harassment, and harmful content.

Speaking at a press conference in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) on Tuesday, Dinç described the rapid increase in digital risks as an “urgent threat” to Türkiye’s youth.

Citing Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) data that 94 percent of children aged 6–17 regularly use the internet, the MP warned that easy access to the virtual world exposes young people to cyberbullying, sexual harassment, blackmail, phishing scams, gambling sites, and contact with predators or drug dealers.

“The convenience of the virtual environment leaves children and teenagers especially vulnerable,” Dinç said. “Weak family communication and the mistaken belief that the online world is safe dramatically increase these dangers.”

He stressed that cyberbullying often exceeds the boundaries of free expression and causes serious psychological damage, weakening young people’s emotional resilience and raising the risk of substance abuse, violence, and even suicide.

Dinç called for the immediate implementation of a series of measures, including stronger age limits and mandatory ID verification on all social media and gaming platforms, enhanced digital-literacy and cybercrime-prevention training in schools, better communication between parents and children without fear of judgment, rapid-response mechanisms to remove dangerous online content, and easily accessible support hotlines for victims of digital threats.

“Protecting our children and youth in the digital world is not only essential for their personal development but also for the future of our society,” the MP stated.

Dinç: Israel Seeks to Permanently Alter Gaza’s Demographics

In the same press conference, Faruk Dinç accused Israel of continuing military operations and blocking humanitarian aid in Gaza despite the ceasefire agreement.

“The Zionist regime is expanding the areas it controls, effectively rendering the ceasefire meaningless and trapping civilians in hunger and deprivation,” he said.

Dinç noted that recent developments, including reported U.S.-backed urban construction plans, reveal a clear intention to permanently change Gaza’s demographic structure and force large-scale Palestinian displacement by cutting off aid.

He criticized guarantor and mediator countries for their passivity and called on the international community to allow comprehensive humanitarian aid — including prefabricated housing ahead of winter — and to impose deterrent measures against ongoing violations.

“Decisive international action is the only way to prevent a further humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,” Dinç concluded.

HÜDA PAR, a conservative Kurdish-Islamic political party, holds four seats in the Turkish parliament. (ILKHA)