BAN AND DEVELOP

The events that transpired at the private Idarak Lyceum were transmitted across the country instantaneously, evoking not only fear but also a profound sense of déjà vu. A student in the tenth grade arrived at school in the company of his father and brandished a weapon. He then proceeded to discharge the weapon at a member of the teaching faculty. We had become used to such incidents occurring in the US or Europe. However, the "school shooter" has now become a reality for our city and our society.

Who is to blame?

In today's climate, social media is often held responsible for a wide range of issues. The authorities have clearly outlined their direction that children under 16 should not be present in the virtual space. There is a fundamental truth to this. The algorithms of modern platforms have been designed to function as sophisticated psychological traps. If a teenager in a state of crisis or resentment views even one instance of destructive content, neural networks systematically expose them to the aesthetics of violence, the romanticisation of revenge, and examples of those who have already crossed the line. The advent of social media has engendered a pernicious illusion, whereby educators are merely targets for online abuse, and gunshot is perceived as the dramatic denouement of an extended digital narrative.

However, attributing the issue solely to social media could be an oversimplification of a complex issue. The rifle in the hands of the tenth-grader was not obtained through online sources; it was a family heirloom. The incident at the lyceum highlights significant shortcomings in TikTok's content moderation processes and gives rise to crucial questions surrounding gun ownership norms and parental responsibility. While the issue of blocking profiles remains a topic of debate, the quiet drama within the family itself–and possibly within the school–often remains off screen. In the pursuit of academic success, adults can sometimes overlook the transition period when a child, once full of life, becomes introverted. Social media merely fills the vacuum of attention that we ourselves create.

Regaining control

Azerbaijan is currently at the forefront of a global trend. We are observing a kind of "chain reaction": following Australia, France and Spain, Türkiye has begun discussing strict bans, and now our own society appears ready for radical steps. This appears to be a deliberate strategy on the part of governments to regain control over the upbringing of new generations, control that has been effectively seized by technology giants. If the ban is adopted, its enforcement mechanism will most likely have a significant impact on the foundations of digital identification. The linking of accounts to state registries through systems such as ASAN Login, along with the introduction of substantial fines for parents, could become the very "digital wall" designed to protect vulnerable minds.

However, a legal provision is only part of the solution. Even if we were to completely isolate teenagers from the global network, we would still have to face reality. A ban could be implemented as an effective filter, creating a "quarantine zone" that reduces the impact of public outrage. However, authentic healing can only commence when safety in schools is guaranteed, not merely through the implementation of metal detector frames, but by facilitating meaningful dialogue between adults and students. The incident at the lyceum is a stark reminder that in today's fast-paced and information-driven world, human warmth and attentive oversight remain rare and valuable commodities.

The fragile world of a teenager

According to psychologist Afag Babazade, social media merely amplifies existing trends rather than being the root cause itself. It gives form to adolescent fantasies and blurs the boundary between the real and the symbolic worlds, but it only operates where there is already a "crack" in the foundation of the personality.

"Adolescence is a period of profound internal transformation." As A. Babazade notes, children in this state are in acute need of moral support. Prolonged exposure to stress, depression, trauma or an oppressive sense of uselessness and shame in a teenager can result in new waves of anxiety. These waves are likely to be triggered in response to the need to find an outlet.

Absent a painful psychological background, destructive online content will not become a catalyst. Social media cannot "hack" a healthy psyche; it only fills the vacuum where there is no living human contact. Therefore, it is recommended that the use of social media by children be restricted, given that there are adolescents whose mental stability is not yet fully formed.

Family: who opens the safe-box?

It is important to understand that what happens within the small unit of society—the family—plays a decisive role. A social network is not a substitute for a firearm safe. This is something that an adult may be guilty of, either through direct negligence or through emotional distance and the ignoring of warning signs. The emotional divide between parents and children can create an environment where adolescent aggression develops unnoticed, leading to a sense of alienation. It is also important to consider the environment within the education system. According to the expert, modern schools have become spaces focused on "achievement", whether they are state or private. The pursuit of academic excellence and the attainment of prestigious universities can, at times, act as a brake on the pursuit of knowledge, hindering the development of skills that are vital for the betterment of society.

A deficit of meaning

The problem runs deeper than mere technical control or school discipline. In the current socio-economic climate, there is a growing recognition of a significant gap in the promotion of core human values. From the public sphere, from mass culture and, regrettably, from many families, concepts such as nobility, kindness, mercy and compassion have begun to disappear. We have focused on teaching children to compete, use gadgets and achieve external success, but we have neglected to instil in them the skills to be human. Without this value-based framework, young people may find themselves unable to withstand the challenges of an aggressive world. When "success at any cost" becomes the only benchmark, there is a tendency for moral restraints to fail and the boundary between good and evil to become blurred.

It is vital that restrictions are imposed on the use of social media by Azerbaijani teenagers. The objective is to "reduce the fever" of a seriously ill patient. It is vital to understand that the only way to prevent such tragedies is to ensure that spiritual values are intertwined with intellectual development. There is a necessity for a fundamental reset in society, whereby family and school transmit identical ideals–not in words, but in practice.

At the same time, the urgent strengthening of physical security measures in all schools across the country is becoming an obvious necessity. Entry controls, professional security personnel and modern monitoring systems must become the standard, thereby eliminating the possibility of weapons being brought into educational institutions.

The incident at the lyceum serves as a poignant reminder that ensuring safety extends beyond merely blocking websites and enhancing security measures. It is also crucial to nurture the resilience of the human spirit. It is imperative that we reinstate nobility in our lives; otherwise, no filters or cordons will prevent someone who no longer recognises the value of another human being.