"Minibus driver imposes social media ban on passengers."

Rıdvan Yakut, who provides passenger transportation by minibus between the center of Erzurum and the Palandöken district, made a surprising decision for those getting on his vehicle. Yakut banned passengers from watching social media videos and listening to loud music inside the minibus, citing that it disrupted his concentration.

"IT WAS DISTRACTING MY CONCENTRATION"

Yakut hung a sign on his vehicle's front window that read, "It is prohibited to watch social media and TikTok videos next to the driver." Stating that the sounds distracted him, Yakut said, "When a passenger sitting next to me opened a video from social media, the sound and image caught my attention. Listening to loud music and watching videos while driving was disrupting my concentration. There was a risk of causing an accident. Therefore, I felt the need to put up such a sign in my vehicle."

"NOBODY OBJECTED"

Yakut mentioned that passengers complied with the ban and supported him, saying, "Nobody objected. The sign was also helpful for me. Now, those sitting next to the driver's seat do not use social media. Those who use it inside the vehicle listen to music and watch videos with headphones on." he stated.

SUPPORT CAME FROM HIS COLLEAGUES

Mehmet Emin Çakıroğlu, a driver who supported Yakut's social media ban, said, "Social media is great, but when someone sits next to the driver and watches it loudly in the vehicle, it disrupts our concentration."

"IT CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT"

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sait Yıldırım, a faculty member of the Psychology Department at Iğdır University, stated that the application of the minibus driver Yakut is significant and meaningful. Yıldırım expressed that due to people using social media applications on their phones, it has become difficult to walk at times, saying:

"This application we encounter regarding social media in Erzurum is very important and meaningful. Recently, while the harms of using TikTok and even its prohibition have been discussed in many countries around the world, our minibus driver friend's application has become an example. Because any behavior and sound from passengers in public transport vehicles, especially those sitting next to the drivers, can lead to an accident. This is now appearing as an addiction. People are struggling to walk even while using social media on their phones. The driver's reaction should be evaluated as normal, symbolic, and meaningful."