RTÜK Member Taşcı Points to 'Mafia Series' After School Attacks: '7 Days a Week...'

Following the disturbing school attacks in Şanlıurfa and Kahramanmaraş, RTÜK member İlhan Taşcı has rightly drawn attention to a pervasive issue within our media landscape: the relentless barrage of mafia-themed television series. It is alarming that these programs, often featuring graphic violence and the glorification of criminal figures, are broadcast almost daily across Turkish television channels. This constant exposure, particularly for impressionable young minds, risks normalizing violence and presenting dangerous role models.

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İstanbul, Şanlıurfa ve Kahramanmaraş’ta yaşanan son okul saldırıları, şiddetin toplumsal boyutlarıyla yeniden değerlendirilmesi gerektiğini bir kez daha göstermiştir. Bu tür olaylar tek bir nedene indirgenemeyecek kadar çok boyutlu olsa da televizyon ve dijital platformlarda yer alan içeriklerin etkisi göz ardı edilmemelidir.

Taşcı's critique is not merely about content; it's about the societal impact. When viewers, especially children and adolescents, are repeatedly exposed to scenes of mass killings and the normalization of criminal behavior, it can desensitize them to violence and potentially lead them to emulate the depicted actions. The argument that these series are merely fiction fails to acknowledge the powerful influence television wields as a mass communication tool, especially in a country where it remains a primary source of entertainment and information for many.

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Özellikle televizyonun çok daha geniş ve kolay erişilebilir kitle iletişim aracı olması, bu alandaki içeriklerin etkisini daha da kritik hâle getirmektedir.

We must move beyond simply allowing media freedom and consider the responsibility that comes with it. Taşcı's call for a scientific, multidisciplinary approach to understanding the psychological effects of media content is crucial. It is imperative that regulatory bodies like RTÜK prioritize public health and societal well-being over unchecked content dissemination. While protecting freedom of expression is important, it should not come at the expense of fostering a society that values justice, discourages violence, and upholds our cultural norms. The future of our youth depends on ensuring that the content they consume contributes positively to their development, rather than exposing them to harmful influences that could lead them down a destructive path.

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Son yıllarda mafya temalı dizilerin yaygınlaştığına, tek bir bölümde 20-30 kişinin aynı anda öldürüldüğü toplu şiddet sahnelerinin şiddetin olağanlaştırılması ve sıradanlaştırılması riskini beraberinde getirdiğine işaret eden Taşcı, şunları kaydetti: