Today, computers and the internet occupy a large place in our lives. Gone are the days when children used encyclopedias to obtain information.
The internet environment has emerged where they can access everything very quickly. Although it makes our lives easier, unfortunately, when not used correctly, it harms the spiritual and physical development of children and young people.
Computers and children the internet; Although it can be used positively, unfortunately it can also be misused. Abuse, on the other hand, is defined as crimes that start with spending too much time on the internet and the computer and evolve into addiction, sometimes including crimes such as cyber bullying.
What Do Children Use the Internet For?
Messaging, surfing, playing games, information. They use it like almost everyone else, whether it's to get information, chat instantly, find pictures, music
or text documents. Among these, messaging on social media and playing games come first. Maintaining their friendships, talking about friends or friendships, sharing social experiences, and chatting about daily events enable them to maintain their social relationships. Texting is also seen by children and adolescents as a way to get rid of boredom.
How much time can be considered normal to spend on the Internet?
Acceptable limits of time spent on the Internet according to age groups, culture and society. Although it may change, for the mental health of children and young people; if possible, they should not be in contact with the screen until the age of 3, it should not exceed half an hour a day between the ages of 3-6, 1 hour between the ages of 6-12 and 2 hours at most after the age of 12. During the pandemic period, my children should not be exposed to the screen. Even though it requires them to be in front of the screen to do so, we should think that this situation is an exception and impose limits on the time period.
Risks on the Internet and things to be careful about
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Strangers Can Reach Children
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Communicating with Strangers
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Meeting with Strangers
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Online Harassment
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Feeling Pressure from Peers
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Internet Bullying
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Spending money on online shopping and games
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The Most Common Symptoms in Technology Addiction
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Increasing time spent in front of technology.
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Spiritual, Continuing to use technology even though it creates a social, legal or physical problem
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Emergence of withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, insomnia and anger when away from technology
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Facing more technology than planned
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Spending the majority of time actually or mentally with technology
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Technology, responsibilities ( (such as work, school, family, personal cleaning)
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Loss of control over the time spent on technology
WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?
1- First of all, have good communication with your child. Learn about your child's friends, tastes, fears, likes and dislikes. Give your child the confidence that he can share every subject with you
2- Make sure that the computer from which your child uses the internet is not in the child's room, but in a common area of your home.
3- Depending on your child's time on the internet and the use of the computer. Be sure to limit the duration. Make sure your child spends time playing, reading, doing sports and art.
4- As a parent, be a good example for your children in this regard, as in every subject.
5- Talk to your child about the rules of conscious and safe internet use. Explain clearly what these rules are and state them clearly.
6- Together with your child and school teachers, determine the addresses of websites that are safe and appropriate for your child's age. Save the addresses of the sites you have determined in the "Favorites" section of your computer. Thus, the process of accessing these sites will be easier
.
7- If possible, browse the Internet with your child. If your child is reluctant in this regard, warn your child to only visit sites approved by you and the school teachers.
8- Supervise your child's internet use frequently. Which Get an idea about the sites they visit and the chat environments they use. If possible, try to get to know their friends in chat environments.
9- Obtain the necessary security and filtering programs to ensure your child's safety on the internet and protect them from harmful content.
10- Teach your child not to chat with people he does not know on the internet. Teach your child not to communicate.
11- Tell your child not to give his/her own and family pictures, address, phone number, school name without your permission.
12- Tell your child not to give his/her own address, Teach your child not to give personal information such as the name of his school, your phone number, his parents' work addresses and workplace phone numbers to anyone in the internet chat environment.
13- Your child should not give his internet username and password to anyone except you.
14- Explain to your child that new people met on the internet may not always give accurate information about themselves and may give misleading information about their identity and age.
15- Tell your child that they should not shop online without asking you. ; Teach your child not to give requested credit card number information.
16- If your child is asked to do something they should not do or to do something that disturbs them in online chats, ask them to leave the conversation and inform you immediately and explain the incident. Make your child trust you
. Do not get angry or scare your child. Make him/her feel that you will support your child in every aspect.
19- Ask your child to inform you about the programs and contents they will install or download from websites to the computer and not to do these operations without your permission.
20- Teach children not to behave in a way that will disturb others on the internet.
21- Explain that they should not communicate in a threatening manner with their friends or even with anyone, even for the purpose of making a joke.
It should not be forgotten that increasing technological developments cause children who abuse the internet and suffer psychological damage. In any situation you cannot cope with, be sure to seek help from a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.
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