Child development experts warn of screen addiction and behavioral risks

Psychologist Azad Eşiyok has raised concerns regarding the rising levels of screen addiction among children and adolescents. He noted that increased exposure to violent content may be linked to aggressive and harmful behaviors observed in schools. In Turkey, research indicates individuals spend an average of 6 to 7 hours per day in front of screens, a figure that can account for nearly a full year of a high school student's four-year education.

Eşiyok highlighted that the World Health Organization recognizes screen addiction as a serious public health issue, with some studies suggesting its harmful effects are comparable to drug addiction. The addiction is also noted to shorten attention spans and impact social interaction.

In a broader context of child development, experts emphasize that developmental milestones vary by age. Key stages include head control and sound response in infancy, the expansion of vocabulary and motor skills between ages 1 and 3, and the emergence of complex role-playing and longer sentence structures by ages 3 and 4. Understanding these stages helps parents better support their children's social and cognitive needs.