The dangers of toxic trends for children: medical warnings and advice for parents
In light of the rapid development of the digital world and the dominance of social media platforms over the details of daily life, family and community medicine consultant, Dr. Muhammad Bakr Saleh Qandiyah, issued strong warnings about the growing dangers of what is known as “toxic trends,” stressing that blindly following random digital content has become a direct threat to the mental and physical health of children and adolescents.
The changing digital landscape and its impact on the family
Dr. Qandeh explained to Al-Youm that the new reality imposed by digital platforms is no longer merely a means of entertainment, but has become a major influence in shaping the awareness and behavior of young people. This warning comes within a global context witnessing a radical shift in socialization patterns, where smart screens have often become the alternative educators, thus increasing the burden of responsibility placed on families to protect their children from slipping into risky behaviors.
The illusion of virtual reality and the dangers of imitation
The consultant pointed to a fundamental problem: children's tendency to treat digital content as absolute truth. This blurring of reality and fantasy leads them to imitate dangerous pranks and violent scenes without understanding the serious consequences, which can result in severe physical injuries or permanent disabilities. He emphasized that a child's lack of awareness makes them easy prey for content that portrays bad and reckless behavior as a form of heroism and achievement worthy of emulation to gain digital likes.
Privacy violation and psychological harm to the elderly
In a related context, Dr. Qandeh drew attention to the phenomenon of pranks targeting vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly and those with special health conditions. He emphasized that these actions, which children may find funny, actually cause deep psychological trauma and physical strain that can be life-threatening. This behavior not only reflects a lack of awareness but also indicates an erosion of moral values and respect for elders, resulting from immersion in content that lacks humane standards.
Social isolation and loss of communication skills
From a psychological and social perspective, the doctor warned that the constant consumption of negative and superficial content gradually isolates children from their real-life environment. This immersion weakens children's ability to build healthy social relationships and creates distorted perceptions of human interaction, as they replace genuine emotions with emojis and rigid digital interactions.
Building "intellectual immunity" as a first line of defense
In concluding his remarks, Dr. Qandeh emphasized that the solution does not lie in outright prohibition, which may be impossible in our current era, but rather in building strong "intellectual immunity" among young people. He called upon parents to play the role of conscious and guiding monitors by fostering their children's critical thinking skills, enabling them to distinguish between valuable and worthless content, and encouraging them to engage with positive material that adds intellectual value or develops life skills, so they can face the deluge of digital content with awareness and resilience.
