Social media, which has gained a great place in our lives with the development of technology, represents the personality of people in the virtual world. The many dangers in social media, which has become an increasingly craze, threaten everyone from 7 to 70. With the introduction of applications such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok on mobile phones, the time people spend on social media is increasing. According to the 2021 Digital Turkey Report, the time users spend on social media in Turkey averages 3 hours a day. Especially in social media, which affects young people and children psychologically, bad example, incitement to crime and many other problems threaten our social structure. According to a study by Oxford University, bullying among social media users is increasing.
TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA AVERAGE: 3 HOURS
There are users of all age groups on social media, regardless of young, child or old age. According to the 2021 Digital Turkey Report published in cooperation with Hootsuite and We Are Social, 70.8 percent of the population in our country actively uses social media. According to the data shared in the report, the average time users spend on social media in Turkey is 3 hours. According to experts, it is enough for a person to spend more than 3 hours a day on social media for addiction. Among the identified harms of social media addiction, which is getting deeper and deeper in our country, there are problems such as sleep disorder, disruption of daily work, problems in marital life, and worsening in social relations.
NEGATIVE OPINION LEADERS OF OUR AGE: PHENOMENON
One of the most important innovations that social media has brought to our lives is phenomena. The concept of phenomenon, which is seen as the negative opinion leaders of our age, has enabled social media to become a business line. The dangerous behavior of the phenomena, especially those that drag their fan bases, consisting of children and young people, on social media sets a negative example. Many legal proceedings were initiated and parents were warned for some phenomena that encouraged prostitution, alcohol, drugs, blasphemy and crime. The phenomena that often act outside the social rules in order to gain followers and generate income are among the biggest dangers in social media.
ONE OF THREE YOUNG BODY PERCEPTIONS IS DAMAGED
The passion for being liked in social media, which is used more and more by young people, is also becoming a major psychological problem. Young people and children, who have made social media a tool to prove their existence, are struggling to be liked and increase their followers. According to a study conducted in America, Europe and Turkey, it is noted that one out of every three young people who use social media has impaired body image. The deterioration of body perception, which results in suicide, and the imposed 'measures of beauty and aesthetics' cause serious psychological problems in our future generations.
1 IN 5 PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO INFORMATION BULLYING
While most of those who are subjected to cyber bullying on social media are exposed to sexual assault, many people are faced with threats and blackmail from social media. According to a study by Oxford University, one out of five social media users is exposed to information bullying, while one in five social media users is cyberbullying. On the other hand, the most common of the cyber crimes is the lynchings initiated via social media. The involvement of social media users, known as 'social media justice', in the work of the judiciary is considered a cyber crime. As a result of the conscious use of social media, many people are either executed without trial or exposed to virtual lynching.