The Future Impacts of Explicit Social Media Posts
Prof. Dr. Levent Eraslan stated that explicit posts made for instant popularity on social media leave permanent digital footprints, endangering the careers of young people.
It was stated that explicit content shared on social media for the sake of instant popularity can darken the future of young people by leaving a digital footprint, even if deleted.
The reality that images are never truly deleted
Videos featuring explicit dances and sexually suggestive movements that have recently increased on social media have reached alarming dimensions. It is observed that young people produce this content for the sake of instant popularity and likes.
Prof. Dr. Levent Eraslan stated that social media acts as a massive archive with no return, emphasizing that even videos thought to be deleted or removed from an account today continue to exist as a digital footprint.
Negative impacts on career and future
It was expressed that young people do not take into account the severe consequences they may face in coming years when making such posts. Instant popularity gained through body exposure can create major problems in the future.
It is underlined that these posts can appear before young people in many areas ranging from academia to business life, and from career planning to personal relationships, putting them in difficult situations.
Instilling awareness of digital footprints
Attention was drawn to the steps that must be taken urgently to prevent the negative trend on social media. Young people must be told that no data uploaded to the internet environment completely disappears. It is stated that the awareness that instant virtual interactions are not more valuable than future personal reputation and career must be instilled in young people.
Call for communication and support to parents
It is recommended that families should not approach their children with a prohibitive or oppressive language, but instead establish dialogues that are reassuring and try to understand them. It is important that the feelings of attention and approval that young people seek in the virtual world are supported by social, sporting, and artistic activities in real life.
Integration of digital ethics into the education curriculum
It is stated that practical lessons on social media use, digital ethics, and privacy awareness should be increased starting from an early age in schools.
Legal regulation for algorithms and platforms
It is demanded that legal regulations against algorithms that encourage young people to engage in harmful trends be strengthened. It is emphasized that age verification and content filtering mechanisms must be operated much more effectively.