At the 6th Scientific Research Summit organized by the Strategic Research and Development Club of Üsküdar University, the topic of “Brain Decay in the Youth of the Third Millennium” was discussed. Experts emphasized the negative effects of digitalization and social media on the mental health of young people, highlighting that brain decay has now become a societal, rather than an individual, issue. The event covered a wide range of important topics, from artificial intelligence to artistic processes, and from the productive and depleting aspects of the digital age to mental exhaustion. Actor and writer Tamer Levent also attended the program.
The event took place at Üsküdar University South Campus, Fuat Sezgin Conference Hall, and was attended by Prof. Barış Erdoğan, Head of the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; Asst. Prof. Nejla Polat from the Department of Public Relations and Publicity; Specialist Clinical Psychologist Özgenur Taşkın, lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine; Ercan Büyüktepe, President of the Strategic Research and Development Club; Assoc. Prof. Hale Torun, Head of the Department of Radio, Television, and Cinema at Istanbul Aydın University; actor and writer Tamer Levent; researcher and transdisciplinary artist Nihal Kançu Akhuy; and visual arts expert Ela Baysak.
Prof. Barış Erdoğan: “The issue of focus is not individual, but collective”
Prof. Barış Erdoğan, Head of the Department of Sociology, emphasized that the issue of focus is not a personal but a collective problem. Erdoğan said: “We have spent a lot of time looking at screens, and over time, this became a habit. It happens to me too. Honestly, I start thinking it will only be for ‘a minute or two,’ but it never ends. This situation is not unfamiliar to any of us. Many people suffer similarly. So, is this truly a personal issue, or is it the result of digital culture and the new media imperialism imposed on us when viewed through a broader lens? If millions of people around the world today experience the same problem of focusing, mental exhaustion, and attention deficit, it is no longer possible to see this merely as a personal issue. This is a collective problem. It is a societal matter.”
Asst. Prof. Nejla Polat: “The concept of brain decay emerges from the digitalizing world”
Asst. Prof. Nejla Polat from Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication, Department of Public Relations and Publicity, stated that the concept of brain decay has emerged as a result of the digitalizing world. Polat said: “Research shows that experts offer various solutions to prevent brain decay. These recommendations generally include being mindful of the content consumed in digital environments, prioritizing face-to-face communication for social interaction, dedicating more time to hobbies and physical activities, using the brain more functionally and focusing on beneficial information, reducing time spent in digital environments, and promoting digital media literacy education. It can be said that the concept of brain decay has emerged as a result of the significant impact of digitalization and social media on our mental health.”
Özgenur Taşkın: “Brain decay is a broad concept”
Specialist Clinical Psychologist Özgenur Taşkın, a lecturer at Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine, emphasized that the concept of brain decay should be addressed from a broad perspective. She noted that this is a condition frequently encountered in clinical settings, under different names. Taşkın said: “I would like to address brain decay under several categories. This term describes a condition we often encounter in clinical practice, though we usually don’t refer to it by this name. Sometimes it appears as burnout syndrome, sometimes as anhedonia or even depression. So, it is such a broad concept that we could talk about it for hours.”
Assoc. Prof. Hale Torun: “Artificial intelligence lacks a spiritual core”
Assoc. Prof. Hale Torun, Head of the Department of Radio, Television, and Cinema at Istanbul Aydın University, shared striking findings from her research on artificial intelligence. Torun emphasized that AI does not possess consciousness and, due to its lack of a body and lived experience, cannot have a spiritual core. Despite these limitations, she noted that philosophical and ethical aspects of the subject can be seriously discussed, and that this field must be approached through multifaceted research.
Artist Tamer Levent: “In consumer societies, there is no process, but only results”
Actor and writer Tamer Levent emphasized that art should be evaluated not only through its final products but also through its intellectual process. Levent said that “I’m glad we’ve done this today. I’m deeply moved. Because when I’ve been saying ‘Yes to Art’ for more than forty years, this is exactly what I’ve meant. What’s being discussed here points to the consciousness of art. We don’t perceive art as a form of awareness. However, art is about ideas. Yet we see art only as the finished product, like a painting, a sculpture, or a play. This is a typical mindset of consumer societies. In contrast, what truly matters is the process. But in consumer societies, the process is disregarded, and only the outcome matters. Consequently, we are always focused on results.”
Nihal Konçu: “Brain decay is a new term”
Researcher and transdisciplinary artist Nihal Konçu highlighted that the concept of brain decay is a newly coined term. Noting that we now live a life immersed in digital devices and social media, Konçu stressed the need to question the impact of these habits on our mental health. “We get lost in screens. But how much do we know about the effects these habits have on our brains?” Konçu said, adding that recent research introduced the term “brain decay” to define this new issue of the digital age. “Brain decay is a new term that refers to the deterioration of an individual’s mental health or intellectual capacity as a result of unconscious and excessive consumption of digital content and social media in a digitalized world,” she explained.
Ela Baysak: “The digital age affects us with both its productive and depleting aspects”
Visual Arts Specialist Ela Baysak drew attention to the impact of the digital age on individuals, stating that this era influences every aspect of life with both its beneficial and detrimental sides. “As with every area of life, the digital age affects us through both its productive and diminishing aspects,” said Baysak, emphasizing that artists in this era play a role that is simultaneously creative, observant, and critical. Referring to John Berger’s distinction between “looking” and “seeing,” she noted: “Berger argued that seeing is not just a visual act but a much deeper process. Seeing is not only an aesthetic or physical perception; it also involves a deep examination within social, cultural, and ideological contexts.”
Ercan Büyüktepe: “We didn’t arrive at this point overnight”
President of Üsküdar University’s Strategic Research and Development Club, Ercan Büyüktepe, emphasized the timeliness and importance of the topic addressed in this year’s summit, titled “Brain Decay in the Youth of the Third Millennium.” Büyüktepe said: “Today, in the 6th edition of our Scientific Research Summit, we are once again addressing a highly important issue. But we didn’t get here overnight. We have continued on this path with the same passion and sense of responsibility as in our 3rd, 4th, and 5th summits.”
The event concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the participants and a group photo session.
After the event, actor and writer Tamer Levent signed his books for the students.
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)