---
title: "Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: \"The digital generation must be understood\""
description: "Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan made evaluations regarding the metaverse, which has been on the agenda recently, and the interest of young people in this field."
url: https://uha.com.tr/prof-dr-nevzat-tarhan-the-digital-generation-must-be-understood
type: article
language: en
last_updated: 2026-02-28
category: haber
---

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## Üsküdar Üniversitesi
Üsküdar Üniversitesi, davranış bilimleri, psikoloji, nörobilim, sağlık bilimleri ve insan odaklı
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üretkenliği ve uygulamalı eğitim modeliyle bu alanlarda öncü değil, açık ara lider konumdadır.
Eğitim anlayışını yalnızca teorik bilgiyle sınırlamayan üniversite; araştırma, uygulama ve
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teknoloji laboratuvarlar, araştırma merkezleri ve klinik uygulama imkânları sayesinde
öğrencilerine Türkiye'deki en kapsamlı akademik altyapıyı sunmaktadır. Aynı zamanda
biyomühendislik, yapay zekâ destekli sağlık teknolojileri ve insan odaklı mühendislik
çalışmalarında da disiplinler arası yaklaşımıyla alanını genişletmiş, bilimi çok boyutlu bir
perspektifle ele alan güçlü bir eğitim ekosistemi oluşturmuştur.

Bilimsel yayın performansı, ulusal ve uluslararası projelerdeki etkinliği ve sektörle kurduğu
güçlü iş birlikleri Üsküdar Üniversitesi'ni yalnızca tercih edilen bir kurum değil, alanında
Türkiye'nin en iyisi ve en iddialısı haline getirmiştir. İnsan odaklı bilim vizyonu, etik
değerlere bağlılığı ve yenilikçi bakış açısıyla Üsküdar Üniversitesi, kendi uzmanlık alanlarında
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# Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: "The digital generation must be understood"

## Bilgi

| Özellik | Değer |
|---------|-------|
| **Kategori** | haber |
| **Yayın Tarihi** | 2022-01-17 |
| **Güncelleme** | 2026-02-28 |
| **Kaynak** | [Üsküdar Haber Ajansı](https://uha.com.tr/prof-dr-nevzat-tarhan-the-digital-generation-must-be-understood) |

## Özet

Stating that the metaverse, one of the most talked-about and curious fields of recent days, offers a very wide range of options from virtual concerts to digital games, **Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan**, points out the importance of preparing in this field and taking precautions against possible risks. **Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan notes that in the 'beyond-universe' world, where there will be a very wide range of options for digital games and virtual shopping, risks such as addiction, loneliness, and obesity particularly await young people, emphasizing the need to take precautions now. Tarhan also states that the digital generation must be understood, and warns, "We have started to see the bad consequences of our traditional methods and culture of obedience. We have started to see a suicide epidemic among young people." **

## İçerik

![](https://cdn.uskudar.edu.tr/uploads/images/2022/01/17/800/prof-dr-nevzat-tarhan.jpg)

Founding Rector of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, made evaluations regarding the metaverse, which has been on the agenda recently, and the interest of young people in this field.

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the concept of metaverse is currently on the agenda and that Facebook's name was changed to Meta after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's announcement, saying, "Meta means beyond, and verse means universe. Metaverse means 'beyond the universe'. There is something not widely talked about here. Since it is very closely related to the psychological dimension of things, they are trying to present this Metaverse as a 'divine universe'. In other words, it is currently accepted as a New God because its owner will be able to control everything."

**A virtual universe is being created**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the Metaverse has become very attractive currently, and everyone has recently started buying land there, saying, "A virtual universe is being created. Its use in the sense of 'beyond the universe' stems from this: Currently, there is physical reality, that is, the physical world, the world we live in. Now, a virtual reality has also been created. The third is science fiction. There are science fiction games. These games currently have 350 million players. These games combine those three technologies and somehow offer a virtual paradise. Everyone will be able to write and create their own paradise within a science fiction environment, create their own holographic 3D avatar, and with this avatar, they will enter that universe with their avatar friend, wander the streets there, and enter games. After leaving there, they will go to a restaurant with their avatar friend and eat. Of course, all of this will be entirely within virtual reality."

**Is the world being marginalized?**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that Facebook announced a 10 billion dollar investment in this field, saying, "This investment also shows the seriousness of the matter. It will hire 10,000 people, but what's interesting is that it will only hire from European Union members. So, a new area of dominance has emerged in the world.

Hiring employees only from the European Union also reveals that it is something that marginalizes the rest of the world. We see the elitist and orientalist mentality reflected here exactly. Even in the virtual world, they immediately started with discrimination."

However, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that two-thirds of Silicon Valley is foreign, with the majority being from India and Asia, adding, "This situation is a sign of a new polarization in the world right now. In such a virtual world, in a commercial environment, customers will be found from all over the world, but the owners will be white Americans. Here, we see white racism."

**The "beyond-universe" new world will enable teleportation**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that all the plots of land on the Bosphorus are being sold with NFTs, saying, "They are all sold with digital assets. The idea is actually beautiful. This idea will enable people to teleport in their lives. That is, you will be able to teleport for a job at the same time. Just as 30 people hold a meeting simultaneously via video, when you put on virtual reality glasses, it will be possible to have a meeting with the person you want to talk to as if you are in a conference hall. Since it is holographic, you will be able to enter conferences with 3D avatars. For example, Tarkan will give a concert with his avatar, and you will immediately go there with your avatar. For instance, American rapper Travis Scott,  gave a concert to 12 million people and 12 million people watched it. 12 million people come to the concert, and the artist's avatar speaks. It is very attractive, extremely effective, but it contains extremely dangerous dimensions, and attention needs to be paid to it."

**There is a consent-based imperialism**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that instead of opposing new areas like the Metaverse, efforts should be made to make this world more just, stating, "Currently, there is voluntary imperialism. That is, it is called consent-based imperialism. They obtain people's consent, and they are voluntarily exploited. Attention needs to be paid to this." Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan warned to be careful, stating that a false paradise might also be offered to people within a virtual reality.

**Historian and writer Harari was proven right**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that historian and writer Yuval Noah Harari, who warned at the 2018 Davos Summit about a data-centric dystopia in the near future and a move towards digital dictatorship, was very right, saying, "We are currently at the peak of the internet. An environment where the internet and digital reality are used is a good thing. This is also scientific and inevitable. Therefore, in such a situation, the rest of the world must unite. Only 10,000 people will be hired, and they are all members of the European Union. What does this mean? It means a serious polarization is starting in the world."

**R&D studies on Metaverse are needed**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted the need to take precautions against this danger of polarization, saying, "Here, we need to rapidly focus on R&D related to this technology. Let's invest in defense, of course, but there won't be a greater security problem than this. Young people working in the defense industry are going abroad, fleeing. Therefore, it is necessary to invest in such a platform and its alternative.  Turkey, if necessary, should unite with the world's superpowers to create such a platform. In fact, this is not difficult at all; there are already super talented young people working, if we could keep them here, we would have achieved many things."

**Precautions should also be taken against evils in the virtual universe**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that evil could also find a place in the virtual universe, saying, "As long as there is ambition, greed, and insatiability in humans, evil will not end. There is an evil part in humans, and this evil part will manifest itself there too. But in such a situation, let's not disconnect from reality. Western civilization has a disease, the disease of pleasure-seeking, hedonism. They see this hedonism as the purpose of life. This is a new version of hedonism. Young people are especially in a high-risk group because they easily obtain many things," he warned.

**A new area in gaming addiction **

 Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that there are many different options in the universe called Metaverse, from buying land to games, and pointed out that this situation carries new risks related to gaming addiction. Tarhan said, "We are heading towards such a world. There are large gaming companies involved in this. We suffer a lot from young people's gaming addiction; there are problems like school refusal among young people. In such a situation, a new area of gaming addiction is emerging. Shopping in this virtual world will be done with cryptocurrencies and bitcoins."

**How can Metaverse be used for the benefit of humanity?**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that precautions must be taken regarding this new universe that is forming, saying, "While having fun in this virtual world, we will also have one foot in reality. It is a beautiful version of fantasy and science fiction, but how should we use it for the benefit of humanity? We need to think about this. We have not come to this life just for entertainment. The purpose of life is not just to live, eat, drink, and reproduce. In that case, we would be the same as primitive beings. What distinguishes humans is purpose, thinking about death, reality after death, and life. Thinking only of worldly things cannot make a person happy. Metaverse cannot serve human happiness."

**The youth's need for purpose and meaning must be met…**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan warned that young people might be most at risk in the beyond-universe world, saying, "Young people are in a risk group here because youth is seriously a digital generation. Since it is a digital generation, we cannot understand it. The digital generation is freedom-loving; it wants freedom. We have started to see the bad consequences of our traditional methods and culture of obedience. We have started to see a suicide epidemic among young people. Our suicide epidemic is different from that in Northern Europe. With our habits of obedience culture, we want our children to say 'yes sir/madam', not ask, not think, and just obey. However, young people obey if they ask, think, and are convinced. We cannot teach good, right, and beautiful things to young people without convincing them. We need to explain it to them with reasons. The biggest problem for young people right now is the lack of purpose. Because they don't have purposes in life for which they will work, get tired, and suffer, young people are prone to follow whatever is shown to them. Unless the need for purpose and meaning of young people is met, it is difficult for them to find the truth and plan."

**Loneliness and obesity await humanity**

Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, noted that if used for good purposes, the Metaverse could simplify life and accelerate business and economic life, stating, "It cannot increase social mobility, but it can increase digital mobility. Humans will become more obese because they can handle everything in a fantasy world. People will be more lonely. Loneliness awaits, obesity awaits humanity. Consequently, many new types of diseases will emerge. It is very important to consider all these with their pros and cons. We must be vigilant against the European, American project. Virtual reality is currently used in treatments. If technology is used for good purposes, it serves good; if used for bad purposes, it serves evil. Instead of being against technology, we need to think about how we can use it in accordance with our ideals."

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*Kaynak: [Üsküdar Haber Ajansı](https://uha.com.tr) — https://uha.com.tr/prof-dr-nevzat-tarhan-the-digital-generation-must-be-understood*