Program: Erasmus + KA201 – Strategic Partnerships in School Education
Project Title: Social Media Addiction, Social Life’s Extinction
Project Reference No: 2018-1-TR01-KA201-058343
Duration of the Project: 01-10-2018 – 30-09-2020 (24 Months)
Coordinator: Kahramanmaras Provincial Directorate of National Education, Turkey
PARTNERS:
Kahramanmaras Provincial Directorate of National Education, TURKEY
Dulkadiroğlu Guidance and Research Center, TURKEY
Mancominitat de la Ribera Alta, SPAIN
Colegio Hernandez S.L, SPAIN
36,6 Competence Center, POLAND
WHY THIS PROJECT?
The widespread use of smartphones and social media and the uncontrolled use of it, especially among school-age youth, turn into a habit that leads to addiction. This, at first, affects both academic success and active participation in social life negatively and prevents people from physical activities. Starting from the family, there is a need for awareness and guidance on healthy alternatives at school and community level.
PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT:
The project focuses on the “social media addiction” that occurs in students and affects them irreparably. The main objective is to direct students to non-virtual “real” socialization activities such as competitions, tournaments, clubs, outdoor activities and to protect young people from social media addiction. In this direction, regional education authorities, guidance and research centers, schools and technology centers were included in the partnership, and a multidimensional strategy was put forward by blending theoretical, technical and psychological studies.
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
Development in ICT has introduced a new communication medium in 21st century: “Social Media”, which is defined as “Computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, career interests and other forms of expression via virtual communities and networks”. It has spread among societies rapidly, and has become one of the basic communication mediums. On daily basis, the time spent on social media is growing day by day, and a number of social, physical, psychological problems occur under the brand new concept: “Social Media Addiction”
Social media addiction is a phrase sometimes used to refer to someone spending too much time using social media – so much so that it interferes with other aspects of daily life. There’s no official medical recognition of social networking addiction as a “disease” or disorder. Still, the cluster of behaviors associated with heavy or excessive use of social media has become the subject of much discussion and research. Recently, social media addiction cases become subject of psychological or neurological studies. Plenty of clinicians have observed symptoms of anxiety, depression and some psychological disorders in people who spend too much time online.
In this context, a “social media addict” could be considered “Someone with a compulsion to use social media to excess for hours on end”.
Researchers at Chicago University concluded that social media addiction can be stronger than addiction to cigarettes and booze following an experiment in which they recorded the cravings of several hundred people for several weeks. Media cravings ranked ahead of cravings for cigarettes and alcohol.
Many academic studies indicate risks of social media addiction, indicating significant findings.
Time management is the process of planning and exercising conscious control of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency or productivity. Modern educational strategies should focus on how to use the most precious resource in human life: “Time”.. Therefore, time management at school era is of the utmost importance.
The project “Social Media Addiction, Social Life’s Extinction – Online Slavery” has been developed in order to create awareness and multidimensional understanding on the irretrievable negative effects of social media addiction of students. The basic approach of the project is protecting young people from harmful effects of addiction and promoting offline (non-cyber) activities. In order to achieve its goals, the project addresses students (target group), teachers, parents, and school administrations throughout implementation. The project combines the power of educational authorities with related institutions (NGOs, research centers, technology centers, social activity promoters etc), blends good practices done so far, and offers practical activities.
The project also supports target groups with both educational services (questionnaires, seminars) and with practical actions (campaigns, contests, tournaments, clubs, outdoor activities), and promotes face-to-face peer interaction in order to avoid excessive use of social media.
Built up in a “regional partnership” concept, “Social Media Addiction, Social Life’s Extinction” project offers the partnership activities in 3 participating regions: Kahramanmaras (TURKEY), Alzira (SPAIN), and Lodz (POLAND).
PROJECT RESULTS:
“1 Hour Offline a Day” habit,
Public awareness against unconscious use of social media
Useful use of the Internet
Quality time management,
Academic motivation and achievement
Healthy physical and mental development
Development of communication skills,
“Free Minds” club
“Guide to Getting Rid of Social Media Addiction”
Work Packages:
Establishment of project units, interim contracts and assignments
Initiation of commission work, research and survey work
Project website creation
Implementation of surveys
Organizing information activities (seminars for students and parents)
Starting the “1 hour offline” campaign for the target group
“Time management” training, seminars for students
Dissemination of daily plan implementation and reduction of “screen time”
Enriching students’ daily activities with healthy alternatives
Sports activities in schools (chess, table tennis, volleyball, football, basketball)
Student competitions: slogan, photo, poster / picture
Social activities: visits to nursing home, charity and hospital
Outdoor activities: picnics, trekking,
Implementation of the latest surveys for students and parents, evaluation of the results
Commission work: creation of e-journal
Preparation of final report
Project Implementation Units:
Project Coordination Unit
Project Implementation Unit
Research and Data Collection Unit
Reporting, Finance, Project Monitoring and Evaluation Unit