Turkish Family Minister Warns of Declining Attention Span in Children Due to Digital Media
Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, the Turkish Minister of Family and Social Services, announced the government’s plan to introduce new regulations regarding children’s use of social media and warned of a sharp decline in attention spans and focus among the younger generation.
In a post on her social media account, Minister Göktaş stated that regulations similar to those in many countries around the world will soon be implemented to protect children from the harms of the digital world.
Pointing out that the attention span of social media users has dropped to less than 8 seconds, she said, “Constant scrolling up and down on social media has become so normal that our attention now rarely exceeds 8 seconds. This state of constant stimulation harms our children more than it harms us.”
Citing statistics, Minister Göktaş emphasized that children’s attention spans have decreased by at least 30% over the past 10 years. Stating that this trend is a factor affecting students’ ability to focus, their friendships, and their academic performance, she added, “This situation has also made the teaching process much more difficult for educators. That is precisely why social media regulations for children are being discussed and implemented all over the world, and we are also striving to provide a safer internet environment for our children.”
Finally, she called on parents and teachers to cooperate in this regard, saying, “Together, we can create a safe internet environment for our children.”
