Too much of a good thing...

With the transition to online education, the amount of time children spend at home and in front of screens has increased.

Since the Coronavirus epidemic, we have used the Internet to meet our educational, socialization, and communication needs. Therefore, it makes sense to discuss also the positive aspects of screen use. As education continues to take place online, children use their time at home to benefit their education. During the day, they continue to communicate with their teachers and friends about their classes. Talking to his friends and loved ones during the day contributes to the socialization of the child, who is otherwise in touch with only a small number of people. In other words, contrary to all fears, technology has actually been good for our lives, especially for our children's lives. However, along with the positive effects of technology, there are also potential dangers. Increased screen use can lead to dry eyes, back and neck pain, sleep and eating disorders.

What about technology addiction?

Addiction is when a person loses control over an object or action they use and can no longer live without it. That is, the will in using and behaving disappears, and the addict continues to use or behave whether they want to or not. In addition, this use and behavior take up a large part of his life. The person spends all their time and physical energy that remains from the tasks and relationships they have to take care of on the substance or act. One of the most common addictions today is technology addiction.

Technology addiction is defined as "excessive use, inability to satisfy cravings for use, neglect of activities due to excessive use, excessive use that harms social relationships, use as an escape from negative emotions and life stresses, problems reducing and stopping use, nervousness and restlessness when use is not possible, and duration of use and lying about the amount" concerning the use of the Internet and technological devices.

What does technology addiction include?

  • TV

  • Phone

  • Tablet

  • Computer games

  • Game consoles

  • Internet

  • Social Media

What are the causes of technology addiction?

  • Ignorance or lack of knowledge about the consequences of addiction.

  • Lack of knowledge about uncontrolled and excessive use

  • Inability to control curiosity and boredom and to failure to find better things to do

  • Not knowing how to solve problems and turning to technology instead of solving problems, i.e., a loss of research motivation and desire to reach a conclusion quickly without addressing it

  • Not being able to build or having difficulty building social relationships and therefore trying to achieve things in the virtual world that are impossible in the real world

Given the prevalence of technology use among children under today's conditions, you may find many of them asking the question, "Is my child addicted?" To be able to tell this, you need to compare the current and past use of technology by children. At the same time, it is imperative to monitor our children's use of technology when this process is complete.

Opportunities of the Digital World and Children

UNICEF has advised families to reconsider the screens that help them feel normal under the pandemic circumstances and time spent in front of them. The article, published by UNICEF, includes the following worrds:

"With more than 130 countries restricting movement to contain the COVID -19 pandemic, it is time to recognize the Internet as a critical tool for children's access to learning, play, entertainment, and social interaction. In short, they might have a lot to gain from spending time in the digital space."

During the pandemic, it is normal for parents to be flexible with their children's screen time.

The amount of time spent online and offline should be structured with a schedule in mind.

Under proper and deliberate guidance, children's use of digital media will help them build a healthy relationship with technology, not just during the pandemic but always. In this context, it is helpful to remember the opportunities that the digital world offers to children. Now I am going to tell you what those opportunities are.

HOW DOES THE DIGITAL WORLD WORK FOR THE BENEFIT OF CHILDREN?

  • Children can research social media and improve themselves by using digital media.

  • They can learn how to protect themselves from online risks by using them in a cautious way.

  • They can connect with their friends and develop a sense of belonging.

  • They can benefit from online training and learn about academic organizations.

  • They can research thoroughly and master their areas of interest thanks to the opportunities offered by digital media.

  • Thanks to digital media, children can strengthen skills necessary for the 21st century, such as communication, cooperation, critical thinking, responsibility, and problem-solving.

Technology is an integral part of our lives. For this reason, our children may unconsciously tend to be out of control with the virtual environment. Remember that it is all in the hands of us, the families. We can turn technology from harm into a valuable device with small games, family promises, contracts, or small activities.

If you have these problems with your children, you can get support from a specialist.