The case in the United States in which an 11-year-old child, allegedly addicted to video games, killed his father, and the recent death of 13 year old Abdulkadir Eymen Bilgin in Trabzon have brought digital addiction debates back to the forefront, placing the question of “prohibition or empowerment?” at the center of public discussion.
Emphasizing the necessity of protecting children from the risks they may encounter in digital environments, Child Development Specialist Asst. Prof. Demet Gülaldı said, “However, building solutions solely on prohibition carries the risk of overlooking the positive aspects of social media such as education, creativity, social connection, and public participation.”
In this context, Asst. Prof. Gülaldı stated that a more sustainable approach would be to develop policies centered on the principles of “safe design” and “child rights-based regulation” rather than prohibition. She said, “The goal is not to isolate young people from the digital world, but to empower them as individuals who are conscious, capable of critical thinking, and resilient enough to cope with online risks.”
The case in the United States in which an 11-year-old child, allegedly addicted to video games, killed his father, and the recent death of 13-year-old Abdulkadir Eymen Bilgin in Trabzon have once again reignited discussions on digital addiction, placing the question of “prohibition or empowerment?” at the center of public debate.
Asst. Prof. Demet Gülaldı, faculty member in the Department of Child Development at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Üsküdar University, evaluated digital addiction within the framework of “prohibition or empowerment?”
Development of digital literacy skills is targeted
Asst. Prof. Demet Gülaldı reminded that the “Action Plan for Empowering Children in the Digital World 2026-2030” entered into force under the coordination of the Ministry of Family and Social Services through a Presidential Circular published in the Official Gazette dated February 3, 2026.
She said, “The strategic objectives of this action plan have been determined under the headings of Awareness and Consciousness Raising, Development of Protective and Preventive Mechanisms, Strengthening Intervention and Support Mechanisms Against Digital Risks, and Strengthening Legal and Institutional Regulations. In particular, the plan aims to improve digital literacy skills for both children and families, promote safe behavior patterns on digital platforms, and support skills such as critical thinking, ethical responsibility, and privacy awareness. By encouraging children to access information, participate in online learning, and use technology effectively, digital technologies are intended to be viewed not only as tools of consumption but also as areas of production and development.”
Australia became a pioneer
Noting that as of December 10, 2025, children and adolescents under the age of 16 in Australia have been prohibited from opening new accounts or maintaining existing ones on major social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, X, and Facebook, Asst. Prof. Demet Gülaldı said:
“With the ‘Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024,’ adopted on November 28, 2024, the minimum age for social media use was set at 16, introducing a pioneering regulation worldwide. The law directs sanctions not toward children or parents but directly toward technology companies. The main justification for the regulation is the protection of children’s and adolescents’ mental health, safety, and overall wellbeing. The increase in cyberbullying cases, exposure to harmful content, risks of online exploitation, the possibility of contact with malicious adults, and the negative effects of constant comparison culture on self-esteem are among the main grounds for the legislation.”
Social media bans accelerated globally
Stating that this regulation in Australia has accelerated similar debates globally, Asst. Prof. Demet Gülaldı said, “The United Kingdom is evaluating restrictions for those under the age of 16. In France, a bill proposing a social media ban for children under 15 has passed parliament. China has introduced age-based screen time limitations through its ‘minor mode’ application. Similar regulations are also on the agenda in Spain and Denmark. The European Parliament has reached agreement on a recommendation proposing a 16-year age limit, although it is not legally binding. These developments demonstrate that the impact of social media on child development has moved beyond a pedagogical discussion and has become a legal and political issue.”
Is prohibition a solution?
Stating that the ages between 12 and 16 represent a critical period during which identity development accelerates, the need for social acceptance increases, and emotional fluctuations intensify, Asst. Prof. Demet Gülaldı said, “During adolescence, individuals are expected to adapt to physical changes, construct their sense of self, and determine their position within social relationships. However, from a neurodevelopmental perspective, impulse control and the ability to evaluate long term consequences have not yet fully matured. This situation can make adolescents more vulnerable to content encountered on social media platforms.”
Adolescence is a vulnerable period
Asst. Prof. Demet Gülaldı also explained that research shows idealized representations of life on social media platforms, perfect body image perceptions, and popularity driven visibility culture can negatively affect adolescents’ self-development.
She said, “Social comparison processes in particular can be decisive in shaping self-esteem and body image. At the same time, social media also functions as a space where adolescents can express themselves, maintain peer relationships, and develop awareness of social issues. Therefore, social media presents a dual digital ecosystem that contains both risks and opportunities.”
Completely distancing young people from digital experience until age 16 also carries risks
Emphasizing the importance of protecting children from risks in digital environments, Asst. Prof. Demet Gülaldı said, “However, structuring solutions solely around prohibition risks ignoring the positive aspects of social media such as education, creativity, social bonding, and civic participation. Moreover, completely distancing young people from digital experience until the age of 16 may lead to a sudden and uncontrolled transition afterward. This may prevent the gradual development of digital literacy and self-regulation skills.”
Digital literacy education should be fundamental
In this context, Asst. Prof. Demet Gülaldı emphasized that a more sustainable approach would involve developing policies centered on “safe design” and “child rights-based regulation” rather than prohibition.
She said, “Algorithmic transparency, age-appropriate content design, data protection measures, effective monitoring mechanisms, and digital literacy education should be the core components of this approach. The aim is not to isolate young people from the digital world but to empower them as conscious individuals who can think critically and cope with online risks. A social media ban for those under the age of 16 is not only a legal regulation but also represents a turning point in which the concepts of childhood and adolescence are being redefined in the digital age. How this turning point will be managed depends not on bans but on the development of science based, multi stakeholder, and child centered policies.”
She concluded her remarks with these statements.
