Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK, Minister of Family, Labour and Social Services, stated that 1027 contents have been intervened by the Social Media Working Group of the Ministry, which was established in order to identify the risks for children and to carry out preventive activities.
Stating that digital media can pose a danger for children today, Minister SELÇUK noted that they have been working to identify the risks that children may face in digital medium and to protect them from these risks.
Minister SELÇUK said: “We operate mechanisms to ensure that our children use information technologies in a conscious, safe, healthy, ethical and humanitarian framework. In this context, the Social Media Working Group, which we established within the ministry, intervenes in cases such as neglect and abuse experienced by children on the internet in cooperation with the Digital Transformation Office, Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK) and the Department of Combating Cyber Crimes of the General Directorate of Security.
"We Instantly Intervene in the Contents on the Internet"
Stating that as the Social Media Working Group, they have intervened in 1027 content so far, Minister SELÇUK expressed: “Our group consisting of pedagogues and psychologists works 24 hours on social media for posts that threaten the child and family structure. We all have a responsibility to protect children. As the Ministry, we instantly intervene in the content on the internet that may negatively affect the development of children with the help of Social Media Working Group we have established within our organization."
Access Denial Application for 2 Online Games
A while ago, the Ministry applied for an access denial for the online games named "Run Fatmagül Run" and "Braindom 2" on the grounds that they adversely affect mental and spiritual development of children and youth and threaten the general health of children and society. This application was granted by the relevant authorities.
The web contents that have been reported to BTK by the Social Media Working Group so far include the games named "Blue Whale" and "Mariam Game" on the ground that they obtained personal information and posed a psychological danger to children; “Momo Game” as it contained violent images and threats; "Gacha Life Videos" that had the potential to adversely affect children through injury, harassment or suicide; a video of depicting a tale as it used expressions against public morality.