Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan; was a speaker at the seminar titled “Human in the Digital Age,” organized by Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Civilization Research and Values Education Application Research Center (MEDEM). In the online event, Tarhan made striking statements about the culture of living in the digital age and the concept of family. Tarhan stated that when technology is used correctly, it transforms into a tool that leads people to their purpose, but when used only for entertainment, it distances people from truth. Tarhan said; “In the digital age, technology immensely simplifies life, but when used incorrectly, it enslaves us. If a person uses technology for its intended purpose, they are freed from being its slave.”
“He who controls big data, controls the world”
Tarhan, who dates the beginning of digitalism to the 17th-century Industrial Revolution, pointed out that states keeping pace with developing technology gained power, money, and dominance. Tarhan said; “To talk about the ‘digital age’ we live in the 21st century, we first need to discuss the process that started with the Industrial Revolution. In the 1700s, mechanical engineering emerged with steam power. Power, money, and dominance began to fall into the hands of those who used this mechanical engineering and steam power. Later, in the 1800s, electricity was discovered. Electric power came into play, and electrical engineering emerged. When you combine mechanical engineering and electrical engineering, those who mastered these two powers began to dominate humanity and accumulate money and capital. By the 20th century, automation and electronic engineering were discovered. Power, money, and dominance began to fall into the hands of those who used them. We missed the Industrial Revolution that occurred in the last years of the Ottoman Empire and the first years of the Republic. We are currently in the 21st century, and now software engineering, or big data, has emerged. Along with big data, the internet of things emerged, then 3D printers, and autonomous robots. He who controls big data began to control the world. The latest developments are happening through artificial intelligence and the Metaverse universe. We have now entered an era where digitalism is prominent. All social mobility, economic mobility, and everything else is currently managed digitally.”
“We are heading towards a digital dictatorship, there is a digital capitalism”
Tarhan stated that we have entered an era where digitalization has become a part of life and made striking statements about the threat of digital dictatorship and digital capitalism. Tarhan said; “At a meeting held in Davos in 2018, it was announced that the era of dominating the world with a digital system had begun. The discussion was ‘Is artificial intelligence our new God?’ What they attribute to the concept of God is the feeling of omnipotence, in the sense of being all-powerful, controlling everything, and managing everything. Whoever gets hold of digitalism does this. They will somehow manage the world in a digital comfort system. We are heading towards a digital dictatorship; there is a digital capitalism. A discussion has begun about whether a digital fascism is coming after this. In the digital age, we have entered a period where Industry 4.0 is experienced within such a dynamic, and digitalization is a part of life. If we cannot adapt to this period, we will become objects. In this period, those who use digital platforms will be the subjects, and we will be the objects and become a market.” He used these expressions.
“Being a role model through behavior, rather than just giving advice, is important for children”
Tarhan, stating that children should be given digital literacy education within the family, emphasized the importance of being a role model through behavior. Tarhan said; “We need to establish a culture of internet usage. If we use it correctly, it simplifies our lives, but if we use it incorrectly, it harms us. It causes generations to be lost. If the family is not a weak family, if its bonds are strong, if the home is a safe space, a sanctuary, if the child happily comes home, if the spouse happily comes home, if the home is a warm, pleasant environment, then digital addictions do not develop in children in such an environment. It is necessary to teach digital literacy to children at a young age. Digital literacy is teaching a child to use digital tools in the right place, at the right time, and in the right way. You cannot give a child a two-hour lecture on digitalism. Advice is of no use unless you set an example with your behavior. The language of behavior is more important than advice here. When you do this, the child uses it as much as they need. We have already taught them how to use it until the age of 10, but after 10, it becomes very difficult to teach. This is where what we call media literacy, digital literacy, comes into play. In other words, if we use social media and digital platforms at home as much as we need, the child observes you out of the corner of their eye, takes you as an example, and applies it. The important thing here is for parents to be good role models. A child takes three things as an example, not just the parents: the mother, the father, and the relationship between the mother and father. If there is a warm, peaceful environment at home, the child will not lean towards addiction, there is no need to worry at all.” He used these expressions.
“If we use technology for its intended purpose, we are freed from being its slave”
Tarhan stated that when technology is used correctly, it transforms into a tool that leads people to their purpose, but when used only for entertainment, it distances people from truth. Tarhan said; “In the digital age, technology immensely simplifies life; but while simplifying life, it also enslaves us. If a person uses technology for its intended purpose, they are freed from being its slave. We can actually liken technology to a wild horse. If you tame a wild horse, it will carry you to your goal, make your life easier, increase your social mobility, and handle many of your tasks. However, if you cannot tame the wild horse, the wild horse will take you wherever it wants. This time, you will be exhausted, stranded. You will get lost outside, in the forest. Technology is like the wild horse within us. If we use it only for entertainment, pleasure-focused, and just as a relaxation technique, then because the wild horse takes us wherever it wants, we deviate from the path of truth. True freedom is not living as one pleases, but being free from one's desires and impulses. It is being free from wild emotions. It is being able to say no to those emotions within. This is a skill. To prevent digital addiction in the family, our duty is to manage these desires and impulses within us. The family’s duty is to make the family safe. It is necessary to make the home a warm environment. If a safe environment is created at home, an addicted patient will not easily emerge from that home. In such situations, the child makes mistakes but returns. That's why we tell parents, whatever you do, make your child love their home. If a child loves their home, even if they lean towards addiction, they recover quickly.” he said.
“Communication should be positive-focused, not problem-focused”
Tarhan also made evaluations regarding the causes of digital addiction and the problems caused by digital addiction in marriage. “If a person is happy and has something that satisfies them, they don't become addicted. We see that people with digital addiction are generally unhappy, have no goals in life, or there is no peaceful environment at home. In such cases, they lose themselves in it. When both partners try to correct each other, the problem grows even larger. In such situations, it is important to find your partner's area of interest and communicate on topics that will attract their attention. The relationship should not turn into power struggles. If the relationship turns into battles of domination, control, and ego, people lose themselves in television and computers. In such situations, let them feel that you do not approve of it, and let's not act in a way that reinforces their wrong behavior. When a relationship constantly discusses problems, peace is lost. Build a positive-focused relationship, not a problem-focused one. If you build a relationship based on wrongs, it turns into power struggles. For example, if a man comes home to a messy house and says; ‘I'm tired all day outside, I came home to a mess, what kind of woman are you?’ this becomes speaking in 'you' language. A defensive feeling arises in the other party. And she says, ‘I've been home all day, I'm exhausted with three children, you deal with them a bit.’ However, if he approached his spouse with 'I' language instead of 'you' language, a feeling of regret would awaken in the other party instead of a defensive feeling. Even if she doesn't accept it at that moment, she later reflects on her conscience and tries to improve herself.” he stated.