For children living in the digital age, internet use, digital interaction via social media and smartphones, and excessive exposure to digital technology bring many risks. Experts, highlighting the importance of controlled use, point out that internet usage during the pandemic was 82%. Experts state that technology use is primarily for cartoons and videos during the preschool period, computer games and social media during school age, and internet use, interactive games, and social media during adolescence, and note that the use of digital technological devices should not be given to children as a reward or punishment.
Dr. Lecturer Demet Gülaldı from the Child Development Department of Üsküdar University, Faculty of Health Sciences, evaluated the potential risks awaiting children in the digital age and offered important advice to families.
Dr. Demet Gülaldı stated that with the rapid development of digital technologies, parents are concerned about their children's interaction with screen-based technology in terms of physical, social, and cognitive development, adding, “Families who often have difficulty separating their children from screens are worried that this may be a sign of addiction.”
The Digital Age Also Changed Children's Habits
Dr. Demet Gülaldı stated that the digital age has rapidly changed the lives of children and young people, their childhood and adolescent behaviors, and habits, saying, “Internet and internet access tools such as smartphones and tablets, along with social media platforms and messaging applications, have become an inseparable part of the lives of young people and children worldwide. With the changing way of interaction thanks to new technologies, we share our emotions, happy moments, sorrows, and angers more quickly, and we can instantly announce our stories to wider audiences.”
Time Spent in Digital Environments is Increasing
Noting that the risk of technology addiction for children and young people has emerged, Dr. Demet Gülaldı warned, “Research shows that children spend more time in digital environments than before, the age of smartphone use has dropped almost to the preschool period, and the use of social media, mobile phone applications, and online games are making children and young people addicted to the digital environment.”
We Directed Towards Digital Technology During the Pandemic
Emphasizing that the Covid-19 pandemic process, in particular, accelerated this change, Dr. Demet Gülaldı said, “Inevitably, we directed our children, whom we previously tried to keep away from screens, towards digital technology through screens for educational and socialization purposes. The most used digital technology devices by children are smartphones, tablets, game consoles, and laptops.”
Internet Usage Rate During the Pandemic Reached 82.7%
Drawing attention to the results of the Turkish Statistical Institute's (TUIK) Information Technology Use by Children Research-2021, Dr. Demet Gülaldı stated, “Between March 29 and May 21, 2021, during which the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic continued, the internet usage rate for children aged 6-15 was 82.7%. The same research results indicate that for children aged 6-15 who regularly use the internet, the online class participation rate was 86.2%, usage for homework or learning purposes was 83.6%, playing and downloading games was 66.1%, video watching was 61.0%, and making audio or video calls over the internet was 55.5%.”
Dr. Demet Gülaldı also drew attention to another study which stated that technology is mostly used for watching cartoons and videos in the preschool period; for playing computer games and social media in the school period, and for internet use, interactive games, and social media in adolescence.
Digital Technologies Must Be Used in a Controlled Manner
Emphasizing the importance for families to protect children and young people from potential risks due to internet use, digital interaction via social media and smartphones, and excessive exposure to digital technology, Dr. Demet Gülaldı warned, “Uncontrolled and excessive exposure of children to digital technology while they are still in their developmental stage, and spending long periods with digital technological tools, will not only have negative effects on their social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development but also lead to sleep disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders, and various health problems.”
Cyberbullying Creates Negative Effects
Dr. Demet Gülaldı also pointed to risks emerging in later stages, stating, “Cyberbullying, which manifests in various ways such as harmful messages sent electronically by friends or strangers, impersonating another person online, sharing private messages, uploading photos or videos that cause shame and embarrassment, spreading them to large audiences, and excluding people from online groups, negatively affects children's and young people's social relationships, academic success, and identity development.”
These Recommendations Should Be Heeded!
Dr. Demet Gülaldı listed practical recommendations to make the digital technological space safer for children:
• Children should be placed at the center of digital policies.
• Families should not make social media posts about their children, respecting their rights.
• Children's information privacy should be ensured, and their online identities should be protected. It should be known that sharing images of unborn children, and publishing videos and photos of children constitutes child abuse.
• Children should be protected from all online risks, including abuse, exploitation, child trafficking, cyberbullying, and exposure to inappropriate materials. For this, families should cooperate with the relevant authorities.
• Children should be given digital literacy lessons to ensure they are informed, participative, and safe in the digital world.
• Parents should be appropriate role models for their children regarding the use of digital technology.
• Families should not leave their children unsupervised with digital technology for their own convenience.
• The use of digital technological devices such as tablets, smartphones, and computers should not be a reward or punishment given to a child; instead, the child should be granted the right to use them within their daily routine, and the limits of this use in terms of time and place should be determined.