The International Digital Games Congress, organized for the 2nd time this year, began under the auspices of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority. The congress, which will continue from December 2-5, was attended by Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, Chairman of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, Deputy Chairman of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority Dr. Abdülkerim Gün, and Prof. Dr. Betül Ulukol, a faculty member of the Department of Child Health and Diseases at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, along with numerous representatives and students from the public and private sectors.
Speaking at the opening of the congress, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan stated that digital games have gone beyond being just an entertainment tool and have carved out an important place for themselves in various fields such as education, health, psychology, and social interaction, emerging as an education and business development platform.
Sayan said, “Gamification applications create more effective learning processes in education while also contributing to students' skills such as problem-solving, creative thinking, and teamwork. Schools and universities in Turkey have begun integrating gamification and digital games into their curricula, thereby creating a more interactive learning environment for students.”
Expressing that Turkey is rapidly advancing to become a serious player in the digital games sector, Sayan stated, “According to 2023 data, there are 40 million active gamers in Turkey, and the digital games market has reached a size of 1.2 billion dollars. Our game development companies are winning awards worldwide and achieving great successes in the global market, making us proud. Additionally, Turkey has become the center for mobile game development in Europe. In this regard, with an annual growth rate of 36% in digital game consumption, we are Europe's fastest-growing digital games market.”
Emphasizing the importance of achieving full technological independence, Sayan said, “The concept we call domestic and national production has no limits. We must produce and obtain everything imaginable with our own resources.”
Sayan concluded his speech by saying, “Our future lies in the security of our youth. As a government, we are obliged to take all necessary measures to prevent any platform from being misused. This is not just a duty; it is also a responsibility to future generations. We will never allow malicious content to reach innocent minds, but young people also need to be very careful individually.”
Chairman Karagözoğlu: Digital Games Have Become a Part of Daily Life
Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, Chairman of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, also delivered important messages to the participants at the congress. Karagözoğlu stated that digital games have now become a part of daily life, not just as entertainment, but with different aspects such as economy, education, socialization, and addiction.
Stating that they have developed various projects and supportive programs to protect children and youth from risks they may encounter in the internet environment, Karagözoğlu said, “Our institution has renewed the ‘Safe Play’ website and platform to provide safe digital gaming experiences for children and youth, and increased awareness activities regarding the safe use of digital games. This platform offers important resources to keep children and families safe in the digital world, introduces parental control tools for parents, and provides guidance on gaming durations, content restrictions, and security measures.”
Noting that they are conducting many studies simultaneously to create a safe digital ecosystem, Karagözoğlu said, “As BTK, through national and international events, educational/awareness activities, and seminars we organize on topics such as digital literacy and internet security, we inform parents, educators, and students on issues like gaming addiction, digital footprints and app permissions, security of online shopping, security measures to be taken in the digital world, and educational opportunities on the internet.”
Karagözoğlu stated, “In this regard, since 2012, we have reached a total of 257,640 people through 1,584 trainings and seminars, and as of 2024, with 137 trainings conducted, we have reached an additional 28,956 people.”
Emphasizing that the Free Safe Internet Service, offered free of charge, is of great importance for security in the digital world, Karagözoğlu said, “This service, which provides an important filtering solution to ensure digital security, offers two main profile categories for families and children to use the internet safely: Child Profile and Family Profile. The Child Profile provides access to age-appropriate content, while the Family Profile allows parents to monitor their children's digital experiences. Thus, digital games can also be played safely.” He concluded his speech with these words.