Social media ban warning from Prof. Dr. Esra Akın: Do not hand over your account

Ahead of the regulation taking effect on November 1 that bans social media use for children under 15, Ethics and Social Values Expert Prof. Dr. Esra Akın issued warnings against parents trying to bypass the ban by giving their own accounts to their children.

The regulation banning social media use for children under the age of 15 enters into force on November 1. Criticizing parents who say they will let their children use their own social media accounts to bypass the ban, Ethics and Social Values Expert Prof. Dr. Esra Akın stated that this rule, established to protect children, holds value and should not be circumvented.

Akın emphasized that by nature, children under 15 are vulnerable to attacks. Stating that children encounter ten bad and ugly things for every one good thing on social media, the expert noted that children constantly exposed to bad examples could carry negativity into their lives. Stating that conscious parents should incorporate beneficial activities into children's lives instead of bypassing the ban, Akın said, "Which parent hands over fire for their child to play and have fun with?"

Reminding that many developed countries around the world have introduced similar restrictions, Akın stated that discussions should focus on what can be done to fill the void children might experience. Also touching upon the possibility that children receiving passwords from their families might show off to other children, Akın expressed her belief that the ban should be strictly implemented with the support of families and that this situation would have positive effects on children's mental, psychological, and physiological health.