President of the Association for Combating Digital Addiction and Sivas Cumhuriyet University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Tuncay Dilci stated that as a result of their scientific studies, digital contact for more than 3-4 hours a day causes serious performance decreases in athletes.
Prof. Dr. Tuncay Dilci, President of the Digital Life Institute, President of the Association for Combating Digital Addiction and Faculty Member of Sivas Cumhuriyet University, said that with a scientific study conducted on 38 athletes in different branches, daily 3-4 hours of digital contact causes serious physical and mental performance decreases that lead to injuries.
Causes distraction
Prof. Dr. Dilci stated that they detected many side effects of daily 3-4 hours of digital contact within 72 hours before the competition in athletes and said, “We conducted a study on the effects and risks of digital life on a group of athletes. We conducted an experimental study on 38 athletes from different sports branches. In the research, we questioned the effects of digital contact on sports performance and general skills. We observed that athletes in the experimental group may have negative effects if they are in digital contact for more than three hours a day and if they are in contact for 3-4 hours a day within 72 hours. Accordingly, if the athletes in the experimental group are in contact with the digital object for more than three hours a day and the digital object is somewhere near them, such as where they sleep, we observed a 13 percent decrease in performance. Again, we observed a 16 percent distraction and focus problem in control skills as thought control skills.”
28.2 percent deterioration in muscles
Dilci stated that daily 3-4 hours of digital contact within 72 hours before the competition caused a 28.2 percent deterioration in muscle coordination and said, “This situation revealed a picture that negatively affected the performance and strength of the athletes. In addition, we observed serious emotional and behavioral negativities in athletes. These results emerged as the effects of excessive use of digital devices and exposure to multiple stimuli. Especially with the increase in anger and stress on the muscular system, emotional problems and impulse control disorders were seen in athletes,” he added.
90 centimeters to watch out for
Prof. Dr. Tuncay Dilci emphasized that digital devices that are closer than 90 centimeters in the same room have negative effects on brain hormones and said, “When we look at the studies conducted worldwide, first of all, decrease in melatonin hormone and sleep disorders are seen. It has been found that if athletes or normal citizens keep devices such as phones and computers in the bedroom or closer than 90 centimeters away, melatonin production is suppressed and the rate of cell renewal slows down. Especially under the influence of blue light, melatonin production decreases and this leads to sleep problems. Insomnia can cause distraction and poor performance the next day. Memory problems, learning difficulties, focusing problems and decreased productivity are among these effects.”
Causes delay in decision making
Dilci also stated that digital addiction weakens decision-making mechanisms in athletes, prolongs reaction times, causes fatigue and difficulty in understanding: “The SAR value indicates the body's exposure to electromagnetic waves. As a result of prolonged use of digital devices, the possibility of heating and cell damage increases in brain cells. As a result, headaches, migraines and a decrease in various functions are observed. We have found that decision-making mechanisms in athletes are weakened, reaction times are prolonged and they experience fatigue and difficulty in understanding. Especially athletes who need to make decisions in a short time have difficulty in this process as a result of digital contact and experience serious negative effects in some of their activities.”
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