When I think about my earliest memory of digital technology, it’s not the smartphones or laptops came up to my mind. It’s the flat-screen television hanging on the corner of the wall of our living room. For me as a child, it wasn’t just a device, it was almost like another family member in our home. I know it is not the healtiest thing for a child but for that time it was like a magic to me that kept my focus.
I was too young to use the TV myself. I didn’t know how to switch channels or change the volume. My parents turned it on for me, and then the screen became my entire world. Even though I don’t remember all the details perfectly, the feelings are still clear to me. I remember sitting on our huge sofa and can’t take my eyes off the colorful shapes and funny voices that came from the screen.
I basically grew up with watching BabyTV, Teletubbies, and Caillou with my sister. These shows weren’t just entertainment, they do shaped my early childhood memories. I can still picture in my head the bright colors, the silly dances, and the gentle voices that filled the room. They made us laugh so hard that I still fell like I can hear the laughter when I think about those moment. (I can’t lie I still sometimes open caillou from youtube just for the nostalgia.)
Sometimes my dad would switch the channel and play whatever hit songs were popular at the time. (My fav was Kenan Doğulu’s Çakkıdı song.) That’s when the living room became my personal stage. I would dance in front of the television for hours, spinning around until I fell onto the carpet, laughing at myself, only to get back up and keep moving. I felt like the television was my audience, watching me from the corner and cheering me on silently to go on.
Even mealtimes were connected to the TV. Watching TV while my mom feeding me was one of my favourite activities. Every spoon of food I ate come with a cartoon in the background. It was almost like the TV became a part of my everyday ritual.
Another part of these memories is how the television brought the family together. It wasn’t just my personal space, it was shared. Sometimes me and my sister would argue with our parents over which channel to watch. But usually we would sit together before sleep and pick a nice show or CD film that all of us can watch. Television shaped not only my childhood but also our family life.
What shockes me now is how different it feels compared to today. Back then, one big screen served everyone and it was more of a shared experience. Now, each person usually has their own phones, tablets, laptops and watches whatever they want, whenever they want. Sure, that makes things more convenient, but maybe also a little bit lonelier.
Looking back, watching television was the starting point of my digital journey. It was the first screen that shaped how I saw the world. Now, of course, things are a lot different compared to it. Instead of waiting for a cartoon at a certain time or buying the exact CD film we have on our mind (of course if the shop has that) , I can open Netflix, YouTube, or TikTok whenever I want. I don’t have to adapt to a schedule basically the media adapts to us.
But in some ways, I miss that old feeling of waiting and sharing the same memory. It was exciting waiting my favorite cartoon came on. There was also something special about sitting with my family in front of the same screen, watching the same thing. Today, even though I have endless options on my phone, it doesn’t always feel the same.
When I think about my earliest digital memory, I don’t just think of a big screen. I think of a stage where I danced, a companion during meals, and a place where my family gathered together. Technology has changed so much since then, but the feeling of joy, comfort, and connection I got from that living room TV is something I still and always carry with me.
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