Yeşilay President Doç. Dr. Mehmet Dinç reveals the golden rule to save children from the digital vortex

Parents often use screens as a "mood regulator" to quiet children, a common mistake that overlooks the deeper issue of digital addiction, according to Doç. Dr. Mehmet Dinç, head of Yeşilay (the Green Crescent). He stresses that the real challenge isn't just taking devices away, but filling the void with real-life experiences, age-appropriate responsibilities, and strong family relationships.

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The problem is not technology itself. Technology is a valuable tool when used correctly. The question we are asking is: Is the child growing up with technology, or are they starting to live life through technology?

Dinç explains that technology itself isn't the problem; its use is. The concern arises when children's lives become centered around technology rather than technology serving their lives. This digital immersion impacts children in several ways. Firstly, time spent on screens directly reduces time for essential childhood activities like sleep, play, physical movement, social interaction, and family conversations. Crucially, childhood is a period of learning through the five senses – touching, smelling, tasting – which screens cannot replicate, leading to an incomplete developmental experience.

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Every hour spent on the screen is an hour stolen from something else: sleep, play, movement, friendship, family conversation. Childhood is a period learned by running, falling, touching, and building real relationships. There is sight and hearing on the screen, but no touch, smell, or taste. Learning that lacks the five senses nourishes the child incompletely.

Secondly, the constant stream of short videos and notifications creates a cycle of immediate reward expectations, shortening attention spans and diminishing the capacity for patience. Thirdly, social media exposes children to curated, idealized versions of others' lives, fostering harmful comparisons that can damage their self-esteem. Finally, children are prematurely exposed to adult realities, bypassing crucial stages of their own development. Statistics underscore these concerns: the World Health Organization reports that one in seven children aged 10-19 experiences a mental health issue, and a 2024 meta-analysis linked problematic social media use to increased depression, anxiety, loneliness, and decreased life satisfaction.

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Short videos and notifications constantly stimulate the brain's expectation of quick rewards; attention span shortens, and the capacity to wait weakens.

While acknowledging that family, school, peer relationships, and genetics also influence child mental health, Dinç asserts that the digital ecosystem has become a direct determinant of health. He calls for a serious approach to this issue, shifting the focus from merely identifying a child's problems to understanding the factors contributing to their well-being within this digital age. The goal is to establish a healthy balance between screen time and real life, ensuring children develop holistically.

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Social media constantly presents the child with a feed composed of 'the best versions of others'; the child comparing themselves to this feed shakes their self-worth.