Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, was a live broadcast guest on TRT Haber’s 'Günün İçinden' (Within the Day) program. Tarhan evaluated countries' discussions on "Banning Social Media for Under 16s". Drawing attention to social media's effects on individuals, Tarhan stated that boundlessness is not freedom, pointing out that this is a teaching of modernism. Emphasizing that in this situation the balance between freedom and responsibility is disrupted and excessive freedom has a toxic effect, Tarhan said that instead of completely banning screens for individuals, they should be told 'no' along with the reasons.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan addressed the issue of banning social media for certain age groups, which countries have implemented or debated in recent years, during a live broadcast on TRT HABER.
Children didn't know where to stop…
Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, drawing attention to the importance of social media, began his speech by saying: “‘Should there be an age limit?’ is an important question, but why is there a need for such a restriction? The need to impose a restriction on this matter has existed for many years. We see victims in this regard. Boundlessness is not freedom. One must know this. Excessive freedom on social media has a toxic effect! Western modernism advocated for letting children be free. This was the teaching of modernism. While saying ‘let them be free and become individuals,’ the boundary between freedom and responsibility was disrupted. The child didn't know where to stop. Unlike animal offspring, human children are born psychologically premature. That is, they are born early. For example, a duck swims as soon as it's born, but a human learns to walk at one year old and distinguishes good from bad at 15. Humans become human through social learning. Without innate social learning, we cannot learn to love humanity. They cannot learn human values, moral values, where to stop, or how to behave. There are about 50 documented cases of ‘Feral Children’ found in forests. This also showed that a child cannot learn unless they experience the natural consequences of their actions.”
“We observe that children between 0-6 years old concretize everything”
Tarhan stated that life begins to be learned through abstract learning: “We observe that children between 0-6 years old concretize everything. They see a video and think it's real. They listen to a fairy tale or a story and think it's real. Afterwards, they say, ‘This fairy tale wasn't real,’ and thus learn abstract thought. After this, they begin to distinguish between abstract and concrete. In very intelligent children, it starts at 3-4 years old. Generally, abstract learning begins after the 0-6 age range. With this, the child learns about life. They learn skills like good-bad, right-wrong, useful-useless, safe-unsafe, others' rights-their own rights, and empathy. These are not innate.”
“The child became the little ruler of the house”
Tarhan, drawing attention to the transition from a patriarchal culture to a child-centric family type, said: “The limits of life are the realities of life. A child who doesn't know good from bad, right from wrong, needs parental guidance. Parents need to be guides. Unless they show children where to stop, children cannot learn where to stop. In this situation, suicide cases, incidents of violence, and cases of bringing weapons to school are increasing. Especially in the USA. We encounter school refusal most often in these children. We used to call it a patriarchal family, but now we have become a child-centric family. The child has become the little ruler of the house. This is related to the misinterpretation of freedom. Parents need to teach the child the balance between freedom and responsibility.”
“Families use tablets as cheap babysitters”
Underlining that instead of banning, one should say no to a person along with the reasons, Tarhan said: “Between the ages of 0-6, screen exposure should absolutely not occur without parental supervision. A tablet is given to a child aged 0-6 to make them eat. Families use tablets as cheap babysitters. In such situations, the child cannot eat without it. There are cases where children couldn’t learn to speak at all. I have encountered many such cases. Families suspect autism, but we find it's screen exposure. Since the child has no compulsion to produce words, their brain has always been a spectator. They always listened and laughed. The parents look and say, ‘What a nice time they're having,’ but the child cannot form age-appropriate sentences. Upon this, we immediately persuade the child and turn it off with reasons. After that, children adapt very easily. Especially between 0-6 years old, they adapt immediately. If parents use a common language, harmony is achieved. Instead of saying 'forbidden' to the child, it is necessary to say 'no' along with the reasons. No matter how old they are, we will explain it like an adult, but we will not expect adult behavior.”
“It seems convenient, but it turns the child's world upside down”
Tarhan, stating that social media should be used for the right purposes, concluded his remarks by saying: “Currently, our children are becoming victims of social media. Social media appears fun and convenient, but it turns the child's world upside down. Because the child doesn't yet know good from bad. In this regard, social media is a tool, not an end. Parents must be decisive and use a common language. In such situations, when children see that their parents are using a common language, they usually engage in negotiation. They start bargaining. Adolescence is already a stormy period. In such cases, it is necessary to proceed by consensus. Using it for educational purposes is different from using it for entertainment. Therefore, no step back should be taken on this issue.”
It should be addressed differently for under 13s and over 13s…
Tarhan, pointing out that it is beneficial to address the relevant study by evaluating it separately for those under 13 and separately for those over 13, said: “The implementation should be gradual. Suddenly taking a smartphone from a child's hand has the same effect as suddenly reducing a car going at 150 to 60 or 70. The child will reject it. This needs to be regulated according to age group. Parental supervision is essential between 0-6 years old. Between 6 and 12 years old, this rule is very effective right now. When the law comes out, the parents’ hand will be strengthened.”