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The uncontrolled use of social media and violent video games poses a growing threat to adolescents at a crucial stage of their development. Child and adolescent health experts warn that technology, if overused, can profoundly impact young people’s behavior, contributing to the emergence of aggressive behavior.
Research indicates that aggression in adolescents depends not only on individual personality traits, but also on environmental and digital influences. Professor Eyup Sabri Ercan of Ege University emphasized that violent behavior has increased in recent years precisely because of the inappropriate use of technology.
Ercan explained that aggression is the result of the interaction between genetic and external factors. Since genetic predisposition remains stable, the increase in aggressive behavior demonstrates the strengthening of environmental factors. Among these, a key role is played by the increase in violent digital content and prolonged exposure to online platforms and video games.
According to the expert, continued exposure to violent scenes can generate not only aggression but also a desire for social isolation . For this reason, he reiterated the importance of adopting guidelines against digital addiction, urging parents to pay attention to possible psychiatric symptoms in their children and not dismiss them as simple phases of adolescence.
Ercan also recommended limiting the use of electronic devices, avoiding violent content such as films, series, and games. He suggested promoting regular physical activity and moderate media consumption within the family, noting that parents should also be role models.
Associate Professor Fevzi Tuna Ocakoğlu, also from Ege University, added that children exposed to arguments and wars on social media from an early age develop difficulties managing anger. Constantly watching violence leads to a loss of sensitivity and a distorted perception of reality, especially with role-playing games and military simulators, where the high-quality graphics blur the line between virtual and real.
Ocakoğlu concluded by emphasizing the urgency of preventive interventions. He urged parents to monitor their children’s use of digital platforms and to pay attention to signs such as excessive computer use, withdrawal, irritability, insomnia, or changes in appetite—symptoms that require immediate professional intervention.
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