The increasing prevalence of screen addiction among children has raised serious concerns regarding the psychological effects, including anxiety and depression.

Young users, particularly on platforms like TikTok, are exposed to various online dangers, including hazardous challenges that have resulted in fatalities.

Current filtering programs intended to limit access to such content have proven inadequate.

Szűts Zoltán, a media researcher and dean at Eszterházy Károly Catholic University, emphasizes the significant role parents play in modeling appropriate behavior around technology use.

He argues that if children observe their parents engaging with technology without boundaries, prohibitions will likely be ineffective.

Open discussions regarding the benefits and risks of applications are crucial for effective guidance.

Research indicates that 57% of children encounter dangerous online challenges by ages 10-11, despite age restrictions on social media usage.

Szűts notes the necessity for parents to maintain communication with their children to mitigate exposure to perilous TikTok challenges.

Reports indicate that many parents are not sufficiently engaging with their children on these topics.

Szűts highlights that algorithms are sophisticated enough that even TikTok may struggle to entirely filter out harmful challenges, thereby signaling a need for shared accountability among parents and social media platforms.

He stated that advertising models thrive on user engagement, further complicating enforcement measures.

Parental control features on digital devices, while available, are underutilized and often ineffective.

Szűts explains that many young users can easily bypass these restrictions by creating adult accounts.

He stresses that a more complex supervisory system is needed, as current simplicity may lead parents to abandon attempts at monitoring usage.

Hal Melinda, a clinical psychologist, warns against the introduction of smart devices to children, especially in primary school.

She indicates that increasing numbers of preschool-aged children possess their own devices, which can disrupt neurological and emotional development.

Melinda underscores that technology use should not be the problem itself, but how it is utilized.

Melinda suggests that limiting screen time is critical to prevent detrimental effects, referencing guidelines from the World Health Organization that recommend zero screen time for children under three years and no more than 20-30 minutes for older children.

Concerns have been raised about the association between excessive screen time and obesity, emotional detachment, and mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.

In evaluating the relative dangers of social media platforms, Melinda identifies TikTok as particularly harmful to youth, followed by Instagram and Facebook, while YouTube is seen as potentially beneficial for educational purposes.

She cautions that social media often contributes more to young people's issues than it provides positive engagement, leading to increasing loneliness.

Research indicates that children are increasingly acquiring smartphones by the age of ten in Hungary, often circumventing app restrictions, leading to rapid exposure to inappropriate content.

Melinda emphasizes the need for family engagement in physical activities to promote healthy development while encouraging open communication about the challenges posed by digital technology.

The dynamic between parents and children significantly influences how quickly issues such as online bullying are addressed.

Building trust is essential, as fear of punishment may discourage disclosures of negative online experiences.

In light of these findings, initiatives such as the 'Digital Lent' program, organized across Catholic schools in Hungary, aim to promote awareness and responsible technology use among students.

The project's outcomes are expected to provide insights into the effectiveness of such interventions.