Amid the rapid flow of technological advancement, children today are growing up in a digital landscape vastly different from that of previous generations. The presence of gadgets, social media, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is no longer just a complement to life—it has become an integral part of their everyday existence. In such circumstances, a fundamental question arises: are we equipping them not only with technical skills but also with ethical understanding in using technology?

Technology has often been positioned merely as a tool. This instrumental approach regards machines as lifeless objects subject to human will, without considering how deeply their presence influences, shapes, and even reshapes the way humans think and behave. When children grow up assuming technology is just something they control, they can easily fall into manipulative behavior, a lack of empathy, and irresponsibility in its use. This is where the importance of digital ethics education comes in.

Teaching children to be ethical in using technology and social media means guiding them to think beyond mere practical functions. It’s about instilling an awareness that every digital interaction has consequences—for themselves and for others. Social media, for example, is not just a place to share photos or opinions; it is a real social space where others’ feelings, dignity, and identities can be celebrated—or harmed. Similarly, with the increasing use of AI—appearing as chatbots, recommendation algorithms, and smart assistants—children need to understand that they are interacting with systems designed to learn and respond to their behavior.

AI technology is not one-directional. It is not just a passive tool awaiting commands, but a system shaped by data and patterns of human interaction. The more we interact with it, the more it learns about us—our preferences, habits, speech patterns, and even emotional tendencies. In this context, it is crucial to help children realize that the relationship with AI is reciprocal. Machines may not be alive, but they reflect the values and intentions of their users and creators. In other words, what we teach the machine will return to us in the form of behaviors and recommendations that affect our lives.

Without ethical understanding, children may be tempted to misuse technology. They might feel free to upload content without considering its impact or spread false information without thinking about the consequences. They might also treat AI and digital systems arbitrarily, and in doing so, grow up without a sense of respect for other entities—both human and non-human. In the long run, this can shape characters that are insensitive to moral and social boundaries in the digital world.

Teaching technological ethics doesn’t mean frightening children or forbidding the use of technology. Rather, it is a character-building process that invites them to reflect on their relationship with technology. Parents and educators need to create open and honest dialogue about how technology works, who creates it, for what purposes, and how we, as users, can play a role in shaping a healthier and more humane digital ecosystem. Children must be encouraged to see that technology—especially AI—is not a neutral entity. It carries certain values that can either strengthen or challenge the values held by society.

For instance, when a child uses an AI-based chatbot to seek answers, they need to know that those answers do not appear magically, but are the result of programming and human-provided data. When they watch recommended videos on digital platforms, they must understand that algorithms are not neutral—they are designed to drive engagement, which can sometimes lead to extreme or misleading content. Such awareness is vital so that children become not just passive consumers, but active, critical users.

The reciprocal relationship between humans and machines also holds potential for a more humanistic education. Technology can be an extraordinary learning partner if used wisely. Children trained to see AI as a tool for collaboration—not domination—will grow up understanding that they can work alongside technology to create something greater, not just use it to satisfy fleeting desires. They will learn that in every line of code or machine logic, there is a reflection of human values that can be questioned, improved, or enriched.

Moreover, it is also important for children to learn to respect digital spaces just as they are taught to respect physical ones. Commenting on social media, sending messages, or creating content are all forms of presence in digital social spaces that should not be done carelessly. This is where ethics serve as the foundation. Children need to learn that respect, empathy, and responsibility apply not only in the real world but also in their digital interactions.

In an increasingly digitized society, ethics can no longer be separated from technology. The two must go hand in hand. Teaching children to be ethical in their use of technology is an intergenerational responsibility. It is not just about protecting them from the dangers of the digital world, but about equipping them with the awareness to become reflective, responsible, and empowered individuals in facing the future.

When children are guided to understand that technology—especially AI—is not just a passive tool but an interactive system, they will act with more caution and awareness. They are more likely to build healthy digital relationships, use technology for the greater good, and avoid the traps of digital narcissism that often arise from viral culture and the pursuit of instant validation.

At the end of the day, technology is a mirror of who we are. What we teach our children about how to treat machines ultimately becomes what they learn about how to treat fellow human beings. Therefore, building digital ethics from an early age is not just an educational duty—it is the foundation of a civilization that seeks to uphold human values in an increasingly sophisticated world.