Is it right for children to meet technology at a young age?
When it comes to children’s interest in technology, we think of computers, internet, telephone, television and other electronic devices. Technology has positive aspects as well as negative aspects. Children and young people spend a long time in front of the internet, computer and television, creating social, emotional and physical problems. In particular, it prevents children from socializing in terms of preventing them from communicating. For this reason, it is not right for children to be acquainted with such tools from a very young age and to be exposed to them excessively. Especially in the first 2 years of age, when development is fast, children should be kept away from technological devices as much as possible. In the next 4 years, children’s exposure to technology should be limited and controlled in terms of content. Technology elements such as violent computer games, horror movies, websites with inappropriate content, etc. can cause serious psychological problems in children or prevent their normal mental development. Of course, the same problems apply to school-age children and teenagers. The only difference is that the use of computers for homework and educational purposes is allowed during the school period.
Families often hand over cell phones to silence crying children. What are the downsides of this situation?
Such behaviors of families can lead to the exposure of children to technology from an early age and potential technology addiction. In addition, these behaviors prevent the child from expressing himself and coping with problems appropriately. Likewise, these behaviors can turn into rituals in children and create habits in children. In later periods, children may expect phone and similar technological devices to keep quiet or calm down.
How does it affect children physically and psychologically?
Physical vision problems (nearsightedness, double vision, lazy eye, etc.), posture and skeletal problems (hunchback, back and neck pain, muscle pain, etc.), radiation risk (increased risk of many cancers), more It can cause many health problems such as physical problems (excessive weight, heart problems, etc.) caused by little movement.
Psychosocial effects also lead to many negativities. Especially in children who are attracted to the internet and computer games and spend most of their time in front of the computer, “internet addiction” develops after a while. Internet addiction is a behavioral addiction such as TV addiction, gambling addiction, binge eating. It can also be called a Technology Addiction. Technological addictions are divided into passive (TV addiction) or active (Computer addiction). The rate of addiction, which is low at the beginning, can increase without realizing it and gradually covers the whole life. Some children are more prone to computer addiction and its negative extensions than other children. Naturally, these children are the ones who feel the attraction of virtual life the most. Any amount of time may be too much for them. Spending more and more time on the computer, introversion, decreased eye contact, decreased verbal communication, desire to play more and more often, withdrawal from social life, having problems with adults, failing to fulfill responsibilities, repetitive body movements (rocking back and forth, moving fingers unnecessarily) Many signs and symptoms such as self-talk or self-talk, withdrawal symptoms (tremor when connection is blocked, excessive irritability and daydreaming, disconnection from peer relationships, increase in body weight and inactivity, inability to evaluate reality, etc.) indicate computer addiction.
In addition, children who are exposed to excessive TV and computer in the early stages of life (0-3 years) develop autism-like picture, which significantly hinders the child’s social and language development
. and computer exposure in children learning, visual memory and imagination. It has been determined that there are serious negative effects on building skills. It has been found that there is a significant difference in the ability to draw, memory and causal relationship between children who are exposed to TV and computer for less than 1 hour in the preschool period and those who are exposed to more than 1 hour, and they perform well in children who watch less TV and computer.
Children establish virtual relationships and intimacy through many popular social networking sites today. The difference between relationships in this virtual world and real relationships cannot be fully differentiated by children. The danger of wandering in chat rooms without revealing their physical identities may manifest itself in the future with behaviors of withdrawing from real social life.
A very introverted person can actually make friends with the internet to boost their self-confidence. Studies have shown that children who chat on the Internet for a long time have trouble making friends in real life. In one study, when children were asked how they felt during Web browsing, the answer was mostly “alone”. These lonely children gradually find it difficult to communicate in the society and begin to have negative feelings and thoughts towards the society. In addition, in another study, it was determined that children who use the internet excessively read less books.
Inappropriate internet use among young people can lead to false sexual experiences, alcohol and drug use, and involvement in crime.
The child is exposed to a certain amount of radiation in this way. What are the harms to the child?
Radiation increases the risk of cancer, especially by affecting fast-growing cells. Children, especially in terms of growth and development, have rapid cell proliferation and are in the group with the highest risk of radiation. Especially brain and bone marrow development are risky in terms of radiation. Radiation prevents brain development in children and increases the risk of brain cancer 3-4 times. Exposure to radiation in children causes negative effects on many brain processes such as learning, attention, memory, etc. In this regard, mobile phones are in the first place in terms of danger, especially since they emit high electromagnetic radiation. Exposure to radiation increases the risk of bone marrow cancer (leukemia). Many types of cancer, such as lymphoma, thyroid cancer, and skin cancer, are caused by the effects of radiation.
What advice do you give to families?
In the researches, parents do not know which websites their children are visiting at the rate of 62%. When the children were asked which sites they visited, 44% stated that they visited sites with sexual content, 14% said that they visited bomb sites, and 12% stated that they entered sites that contained information about where to buy guns. 43% stated that their families did not set a rule regarding the internet, 31% stated that their family followed the rules, and 26% stated that they did what they wanted despite the rules. As a result, parents should know how to win against this technological revolution without having a power struggle. This can only be achieved by acting decisively and consistently. The parent should always be in control. Limits should be drawn on the period of use of technology and must be strictly followed.
