President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan met with physicians and healthcare professionals at Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Hospital, where he gave a talk titled “Mental Health in the Digital Age.” In his address, he discussed the effects of digitalization on individual and social psychology, focusing on artificial intelligence, digital loneliness, and technology use among children. Tarhan emphasized that in popular culture, the idea of self-worth should not be reduced to physical appearance, and noted that digital loneliness is a sign of the absence of deep relationships.
The event was held at the İbrahim Paşa Conference Hall of Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Hospital’s Seyrantepe Campus, with Prof. Hasan Sinan Uslu, Chief Physician of the hospital, physicians, and healthcare professionals in attendance.
Prof. Hasan Sinan Uslu: “We all play roles in a changing world”
Opening the event, Prof. Uslu said: “As an administrator of this institution with 126 years of history and the identity of Hamidiye Etfal, I thank you all for attending this meaningful talk where Prof. Nevzat Tarhan will share his philosophical, sociological, medical, and scientific perspectives on life. While this institutional culture forms part of our identity, we are also taking on new roles in a changing world. One of these roles is to guide future generations toward the correct use of digital tools and to understand how they affect us both positively and negatively. If we do not internalize this awareness, concepts lose their meaning and become merely material. That is why your participation adds meaning to this discussion and helps make it a dynamic session.”
After the opening speech, the session was moderated by Sümeyye Çınaroğlu, Director of Nursing Services at Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Hospital.
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “The smartest digital being now stands before us”
Highlighting the importance of using artificial intelligence for good purposes, Tarhan said: “Artificial intelligence itself is neutral. If we direct it toward good goals, it helps us achieve our purpose. If it is guided by wrong intentions, it can become harmful. Artificial intelligence has revealed something important. The most intelligent digital being now stands before us. It may be more intelligent than we are, but it is not wiser. Intelligence provides access to information and resources, while wisdom is the ability to reason. Human beings can reason emotionally, cognitively, and socially. Our frontal lobe helps us make decisions such as right or wrong, safe or unsafe, appropriate or inappropriate. In essence, what we do as humans is choose. We evaluate what we perceive through our senses and make decisions accordingly.”
“Digital loneliness reflects the absence of deep relationships”
Speaking about the emotional effects of the digital age, Tarhan explained: “Cyberbullying has become one of the most significant forms of peer bullying today. Organized online groups and networks are forming, especially among adolescents, turning people into victims. This has become a serious criminal issue. Digital loneliness is another important concept. It was chosen as Turkey’s ‘Word of the Year’ by the Turkish Language Association, receiving more than one million votes. It is described as ‘crowded loneliness.’ Although Turkish society is known for being warm and close-knit, the number of people who feel lonely within digital crowds is increasing. This is a crisis. There are many relationships, but most of them are shallow. People who can stay calm under stress and manage their emotions are less likely to fall into digital loneliness. Social media often turns into an addiction for those who seek excessive attention and approval. In the end, digital loneliness shows that deep, genuine connections are missing. A person may have dozens or even thousands of online friends, but if they have no real friend, they are digitally lonely.”
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “The California Syndrome has evolved into a popular culture syndrome”
Highlighting the growing impact of hedonism, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said, “The United Nations defines three major dangers awaiting the future. The first is income inequality, the second is climate change, and the third is loneliness. These three are seen as the greatest threats to the future because loneliness damages human relationships and weakens social bonds. When social connections deteriorate, society’s sense of solidarity also declines. This situation is known as the California syndrome. Although not yet officially recognized in psychiatric literature, it is a concept often discussed in popular psychology. The California syndrome has four main symptoms. I no longer call it just the California syndrome but rather the Western civilization syndrome or even the popular culture syndrome. One of its most striking features is hedonism. The influence of hedonism is clearly visible today.”
Parents should be firm about setting limits
Emphasizing the importance of teaching children conscious technology use, Tarhan said, “We recommend limiting teenagers’ phone use for non-educational purposes, such as outside homework or study, to about 20 hours per week, which equals roughly 3 hours per day. Parents should be firm in enforcing this rule. Children under the age of 3 should never be given a phone. Between the ages of 3 and 10, if a phone is to be used, it should be under parental supervision and shared use. This is because abstract thinking develops around the ages of 6 or 7, and before that, children may perceive what they see on screens as real. Such perceptions can lead to fear and trauma. Parents should watch or play games and videos together with their children, showing how things work and what they mean. In this way, children learn conscious technology use. During school periods, especially in primary school, phone use should be avoided as much as possible. If a phone must be given, it should be managed with parental controls and restriction apps. Media literacy and digital literacy programs can be installed, and parents can allow only basic or location-based functions.”
“Children take their parents as role models”
Discussing the role of parents in child development, Tarhan stated, “Love and discipline are like snowfall; they are effective when they come slowly and consistently. Some mothers kiss their child in the morning and say, ‘My dear child,’ but later in the day they might shout, ‘Why did I even give birth to you?’ In such a situation, the child begins to wonder, ‘Does my parent love me or not?’ As a result, the child cannot learn emotional regulation. Children model their parents. The way parents behave shapes the algorithms in a child’s brain, influencing their development and maturity. When Ibn Khaldun was asked how to raise a child, he said, ‘I have no special formula. However you are, that’s how your child will be.’ This principle still holds true today. If parents act in harmony and speak with one voice, it creates stability. But if one parent says one thing and the other says something different, the child behaves however they please. Because the child’s sense of limits is still unclear, they may even end up saying, ‘My mother hates me.’ Inconsistent love and discipline cause this perception to form.”
“The self-display syndrome has emerged”
Touching on the concept of social acceptance, Tarhan said, “Social media has given rise to what we call the self-display syndrome. This stems from one of humanity’s biological weaknesses. The need for self-display, approval, and social acceptance is a fundamental part of human nature. When a person does not feel socially accepted, the brain’s ‘danger network’ becomes active. There are studies on this in Psychology Today and other academic journals. When someone does not receive social approval, their brain’s threat system is triggered, causing chronic anxiety and tension. Therefore, in child education, we should use a reward–avoidance approach. In a child’s development, reward should be the rule and avoidance the exception. In ancient times, punishment was the rule and reward the exception. Today, it should be the opposite. Rewards do not need to be material. A smile, a kind word, or a nod of approval are also rewards. Each of these tells the child, ‘You are valued and accepted.’”
After the talk, which attracted great interest, Prof. Hasan Sinan Uslu, Chief Physician of Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Hospital, presented Prof. Nevzat Tarhan with a plaque and flowers.
The event concluded with a group photo.