We see that the internet has become widespread rapidly after it entered our lives, the most important reasons for this are that we solve many of the tasks we need to do via the internet and that there are many activities we can do for pleasure on the internet. It has been shown in many scientific studies that especially playing games on the internet and intense social media use can create problems in our lives. For these reasons, using the internet for a purpose and being able to limit the time of internet use means preventing many problems that the internet will create. The fact that they can easily surrender themselves to the enjoyable effects of social media causes them to experience frequent problems with the internet.
Intense screen exposure and intense use of the internet in children and adolescents can cause problems in various areas, especially in the development of communication skills and social skills.
Screen exposure during infancy; It negatively affects the child's age-appropriate eye contact, ability to look and react appropriately when called, and language development. For this reason, we do not recommend the use of phones and tablets for children under the age of 3. From the age of 3 to school age, they can watch age-appropriate cartoons for 45 minutes a day. We can allow children to use computers and tablets for an average of 1 hour a day from the age of 6 until adolescence, and 1.5 hours a day after adolescence. What we need to pay attention to here is that we need to know what they are doing on the internet and filter out sites that we think are harmful.
It has been shown in many scientific studies that using the internet for longer than specified hours in childhood impairs both the physical and spiritual development of children. Physically, it causes eye disorders, joint and muscle disorders; It is stated that it disrupts their psychological social development and negatively affects their attention and academic success.
When internet use in children and adolescents exceeds 5 hours, it is necessary to take its negative effects seriously and seek help from an expert.
Some children and adolescents have mental illnesses that cause internet addiction. The most important of these are "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression, Social Anxiety Disorder and Substance Addiction". For this reason, in cases where the family cannot prevent the child's excessive internet use, it would be appropriate to avoid violent discussions and get help from a child and adolescent psychiatrist.
Treatment of Internet Addiction:
Our goal is to use the internet. Instead of quitting completely, internet use should be controlled. When meeting with children and adolescents, it is very important to make them aware of their situation and motivate them to limit their internet use. It is necessary to act together with the family and prepare a contract by taking the child's opinion. It is necessary to support the child's social development and determine together the activities that the child can do for this.
When necessary, therapy and medication options should also be considered in the treatment.
What parents should do:
First, place the computer in an open area where the screen can be seen and add an internet filter,
-Set a good example about using the internet,
-Follow what he does on the internet and watch him. inform,
-Make a contract .
How should families approach young people?
- Evaluate the situation: How long does your child spend in front of the computer? How does he spend his time? What are the pros and cons in family relationships? How does he spend his free time?
-Maintain a ceasefire: This task is the parent's because the teenager can always risk war. You take the first step.
-Spend time together and talk about other things: Be interested in the child's interests and talk about what he does on the computer without criticizing him.
-Increase awareness: Note how long you spent on the internet.
-Choose the control method: Decide together whether the time limit will be weekly, daily, how many hours it will be.
-Don't focus on it and don't compete:
- Create a common front: The two parents need to take the situation seriously and work together. It is very important for him to act.
-Make a contract and determine his responsibilities: Clearly determine how much time he will spend on the internet, what he will do, and follow these rules.
- Use force when necessary: Removing the computer or cutting off the internet should be the last option. Decide together when to use it again.
-Support his psychosocial development: Discovering a sports or artistic activity area he may like, allowing him to spend time with his friends; It will help them socialize.
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