ISTANBUL, April 24 -- Turkey's parliament has passed legislation banning the use of social media for children under the age of 15, making it the latest country to join a growing global movement to restrict minors' access to digital platforms amid rising health and safety concerns.

The new law, passed late on Wednesday, requires social media companies to implement age verification measures, Reuters reported.

It also brings game software platforms under the scope of the regulation, mandating that they classify games based on age criteria and appoint a representative in Turkey.

Turkey's move is part of a worldwide trend that has seen governments from Europe to Asia take increasingly firm stances on the impact of social media on children....