The Illusion of 'Fake Heroism' on Social Media Drags Children into Crime

Internet Addiction and Brain Development Assoc.
Prof.
Tuba Mutluer, a faculty member at Akdeniz University's Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, has warned that internet addiction can lead to permanent changes in brain structure, particularly during early childhood.
Mutluer stated that developing brains are directly affected by digital content, which negatively impacts children's reasoning abilities and decision-making mechanisms.
The Illusion of 'Fake Heroism' Emphasizing that social media content depicting "get-rich-quick" schemes and criminal leadership has a destructive impact on children, Mutluer described these posts as an "illusion" that does not reflect reality.
She noted that children's developing cognitive abilities are often unable to question the reality of such content, leading them to believe in these distorted perceptions and eventually begin exhibiting similar behaviors in real life.
Exploitation of Criminal Responsibility Limits Mutluer pointed out that criminal organizations consciously exploit the age periods during which children lack full legal criminal responsibility.
She highlighted that legal regulations are being manipulated by these networks as a strategic tool to draw children into the world of crime.
Social Losses and the Vicious Cycle While children involved in criminal networks may believe they are gaining status, Mutluer explained that they actually suffer significant losses with heavy social costs.
According to Mutluer, a child drawn into crime first becomes detached from their family environment, begins to experience school absenteeism, and eventually becomes isolated from social life by moving away from education.