Author(s): Hatice Kilinçer / Language(s): Turkish
Issue: 4/2023
Play is a means for children to explore life and is one of their fundamental needs. In today's digital world, children, the new inhabitants of the digital realm, also have digital games as their playmates. While numerous studies have been conducted on the harmful effects of digital games on children's development, there is limited research on their impact on religious and moral development. This study aims to identify the potential adverse effects and risks that the simulation game "Judgement Day: Angel of God" may have on children's moral and religious development, and their fundamental developmental areas. The reason for selecting "Judgement Day: Angel of God," which has a high download rate in Turkey, is its popularity among children aged 7-12 due to its game structure, design, user interface, and ease of play. This study, used qualitative research methods, specifically document analysis, and the data obtained were analyzed using the content analysis method. In this context, the game was played up to advanced levels, and the content and themes that could negatively affect children's moral and religious development, and other areas of development, were analyzed. The findings are presented under three headings: Elements That Could Negatively Affect Religious Development, Elements That Could Negatively Affect Moral-Values Development and Elements That Could Negatively Affect Other Fundamental Areas of Development. It was determined that the symbols, cues, instructions, spatial features, and content in the game contained elements and risks that could negatively affect religious and moral development, and other areas of development (social-emotional development, sexual development, self-care skills).
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