After a long marathon of education and training, students are awaiting a 3-month summer vacation period. Our children, exhausted by the intense lesson pace throughout the entire year, will enter a period during the summer vacation where they can both rest and have fun, as well as use computers, phones, and the internet more extensively.
During this period, families have significant responsibilities. Parents should not leave their children unsupervised under the pretext of vacation and must be aware of the risks that may come through the internet. Nowadays, children watch videos on devices such as computers, phones, tablets, etc., spend time on social sharing sites, and play excessive digital games instead of playing outside on the streets.
In particular, with children referred to as digital natives nowadays and the age of internet use decreasing day by day, the increasing prevalence of mobile phone usage and social sharing platforms brings along negativities and risks through these channels. In this process, parents have important duties as well.
Don't Trade Screens and Virtual Games for Real Life!
The Information Technologies and Communication Authority warned families for children to use the internet consciously and safely during vacation periods and to prevent the loss of gains acquired throughout the year. Officials stated that internet usage should be limited to prevent children's internet addiction and all kinds of dangers that may come through the internet and social networks, and that children must be directed to social activities, emphasizing that screens and digital-virtual games should not be preferred over real friendships and street games.
The statement highlighted the following: “In recent times, families must be very careful against dangerous trends that appear as games but spread and have negatively affected many young people around the world and in our country. Under the guise of games, these types of dangers that target traditional family structures, our cultural codes, and the safety of children and youth, and spread virally on social sharing networks, place great responsibilities on families. Families should first and foremost be aware that some games containing dangers such as violence, addiction, obscenity, Islamophobia, cyberbullying, and exploitation, as well as social media that is not used consciously, can be used as a weapon by malicious individuals over the internet to achieve their aims.”
Parents can use the Safe Internet Service for both themselves and their children. By opting for the optional and completely free Safe Internet Service, they can largely protect their children from harmful content on the internet. More detailed information about the Safe Internet Service, which consists of family and child profiles, can be obtained from www.guvenlinet.org.tr.
In addition to choosing the Safe Internet Service:
· Parents should primarily not leave their children alone with the internet for long periods and should be aware of what their children are doing on the internet and social sharing networks.
· Families should develop a strong communication channel with their children and adopt a friendly approach instead of an interrogative and judgmental attitude.
· A limit must definitely be set on the time children spend on computers or technological devices such as mobile phones.
· Playing digital games together with children is extremely important in terms of being aware of existing risks and taking timely precautions. Additionally, games should be selected according to the children's age.
· Parents should monitor what their children are spending time with on the internet to prevent them from falling into the trap of harmful content spread through links on social sharing platforms and dangerous trends disguised as games.
· Parents should engage in social activities with their children and spend quality time together.
As long as we ensure that our children use technological devices and the internet correctly, effectively, and consciously throughout the summer vacation, we will have done them a great favor. Today, almost all the dangers we protect our children from in real life are abundantly present in internet environments. Creating this awareness and consciousness in society primarily places great responsibilities on families, educators, civil society organizations, public institutions, and media outlets. Parents can obtain the necessary information about the internet and games from the Information Technologies and Communication Authority's (BTK) website http://www.guvenliweb.org.tr/, which features awareness and sensitization efforts for internet users.
We congratulate our students entering summer vacation after an intense year in advance and wish them a peaceful and safe summer vacation.