‘TCs facing social media minefield’
CHILDREN and adults in the TRNC are trying to navigate their way through a social media “minefield”, experts have warned.
They said the amount of time spent on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram and playing games online was eroding Turkish Cypriot family life and leading to mental health issues among some teenagers.
The stark summary was made by three North Cyprus-based specialists — psychologists Ayla Kahraman and Deniz Erkal and social services expert Barış Başel — after the World Health Organisation classed gaming addiction as a mental health condition.
“Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Snapchat work like a minefield for children, youths and adults,” Ms Kahraman said.
“While [social media] can play a positive role . . . its useful sides are undermined by the negative effects . . .
“It’s hard to protect mental health in a virtual environment which provides an unrealistic identity and makes people feel down if they don’t get enough ‘likes’.”
Ms Kahraman claimed “hours” a day spent on digital devices and games consoles was leading to an increase in “obesity and sexual problems” and creating feelings of loneliness.
“Children, youths and adults are exhausted and lonely because of virtual addiction,” she continued.
“After work, wives and husbands rest with their smartphones. Relationships are only for show. They live their own pleasures within a virtual world which is relaxing and effortless.”
She said people living in the TRNC had become “slaves to this ‘fingertip kingdom’” and singled out Instagram for causing teenagers to feel inadequate about their appearance.
A recent report by the UK’s Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) branded Instagram and Snapchat as the worst social media sites for mental health and wellbeing.
“Both platforms are very image-focused and it appears they may be driving feelings of inadequacy and anxiety in young people,” the head of the RSPH, Shirley Cramer, said.
Mr Başel said mothers and fathers should ensure that “parental controls” were enabled on the devices they give to their children.
“Children are under threat on the internet as much as in daily life,” he said. “Parents must think whether they would consider leaving their kids alone in a city and returning hours later: the answer is no, right? It is the same for the internet.”
He added that children under the age of six should not be allowed to use smartphones and tablets in order to “protect their mental development” and that they should not use social media until they are “15 or 16 years old”.
Mr Başel said it was important to teach youngsters how to use technology safely and that parents should make sure they spend “quality time” with their offspring.
Ms Erkal said the internet and social media could have a positive impact provided that time spent online was limited and “for a purpose”.
“If internet and social media spread limitlessly into our time and take precedence over our responsibilities, then that points to addiction and a problem,” she added.
She urged parents to check what their children were getting up to online and ensure “freedom within boundaries”.
The psychologist also issued a fresh warning over a self-harm and suicide “game” on social media known as “Blue Whale”, which she said had spread to North Cyprus and was believed to be linked to over 100 deaths in Russia alone.
Ms Erkal, who first highlighted the macabre craze last November, said Blue Whale — where “administrators” dare group members to carry out a series of increasingly dangerous tasks — was an extreme example of what internet addiction could lead to.
“It starts with spending time on the internet and addiction is both the reason and result of loneliness,” she said.
“People should think about their internet habits. If you feel bad when you are not using the internet, then there must be something wrong.”
She said parents must not allow “unlimited internet usage” at home and should encourage children to spend more time doing activities such as sports, art and hobbies.