Stating that artificial intelligence and digital technologies are transforming the media sector, Rector of Üsküdar University Prof. Nazife Güngör said that education programs should be updated according to this change.
Emphasizing the importance of acquiring digital literacy from an early age, Prof. Güngör said, “We are now in the digital age and have to live in harmony with these technologies. After all, it is humanity itself that develops these technologies to benefit humankind. Therefore, we must not only produce technology but also develop the culture of using it correctly.”
Rector of Üsküdar University Prof. Nazife Güngör discussed the transformation of the media sector with artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
Goal is to train qualified and equipped professionals for the media sector
Stating that they shape education activities in the field of communication in line with the needs of the sector, Prof. Güngör said, “Our goal is to train qualified and equipped professionals for various areas of the media sector. This requires continuous contact with the sector and closely following technological developments. Because with evolving technologies, production relations change, and consequently, the needs of the sector transform. Society's expectations from media and ways of using media are also undergoing a great change.”
Social media has taken center stage in life
Reminding that social media was not a part of life about twenty years ago, Prof. Güngör stated, “Today, we can place social media almost at the center of social mobility. Therefore, institutions providing education in communication must continuously update their programs, taking into account the changes and technological transformation in the sector.”
Artificial intelligence has become one of the technologies most affecting the media field
Emphasizing that artificial intelligence has led to significant changes in the media sector, as in many other professional fields, Prof. Güngör said the following: “Many things have changed with artificial intelligence. The development of digital technologies and the entry of artificial intelligence processes into our lives perhaps affected the media field the most. Production methods, working practices, and content creation processes in media have largely changed. Therefore, as institutions providing media education, we must consider new AI-based needs and update our education programs accordingly.”
The problem is not technology, but the human using it
Stating that problems sometimes arise due to inability to adapt to technological developments at both national and global levels, and that social media is sometimes seen as the culprit in some incidents, Prof. Güngör commented, “Technology does not commit crimes; humans do. Instead of blaming technologies like social media or artificial intelligence, we need to question how we use them.”
Emphasizing that digital literacy education should be provided from an early age, Prof. Güngör said, “We are now in the digital age and have to live in harmony with these technologies. After all, it is humanity itself that develops these technologies to benefit humankind. Therefore, we must not only produce technology but also develop the culture of using it correctly. One of the main problems we experience in Türkiye is the inability to create sufficient awareness and educational infrastructure before this process, despite our rapid introduction to technologies. For this reason, adaptation problems and usage-related difficulties can sometimes occur. This is why digital literacy and digital technology literacy are of great importance. For technology to add value to our lives, provide benefits, and strengthen social harmony, individuals need to learn to use these tools consciously.”
Parents also need to learn about the digital world
“Parents who know and use digital technologies can guide their children more consciously,” said Prof. Güngör, adding, “Today, new generations like Gen Z and Alpha are born into the digital world, while previous generations try to adapt to these technologies later. This creates a significant gap between generations. Young people often perceive themselves as more competent in the digital world, so they may not feel the need to sufficiently benefit from the knowledge and experience of older generations. Therefore, strengthening communication between generations and creating a common digital culture is more important than ever.”
