A parliamentary warning about 5 intrusive sources that threaten the sustainability of family structure in Emirati society

A parliamentary report issued by the Social Affairs, Labour, Population and Human Resources Committee of the Federal National Council identified five sources of alien ideas affecting Emirati society, including: diverse demographic composition, broad technological openness, weak family interaction, and intellectual vacuum, in addition to the gap between generations, indicating that the spread of media and social communication has led to a change in the nature of interaction within the family.

The report reviewed by Emirates Today indicated that the UAE includes multiple nationalities and different cultures, which leads to daily friction between Emirati youth and various concepts and ideas that may conflict with traditional values. Emirati society is also one of the societies that most uses the Internet and social media in the region, which makes young people more vulnerable to being influenced by external ideas, pointing out that the absence of open dialogue and effective communication within the family leaves young people vulnerable to searching for answers to their questions from external sources, and the lack of contemporary Arabic and Islamic content that addresses young people. In a way that suits their aspirations and challenges, in addition to young people adopting new values that are not compatible with the traditional values of parents, which weakens communication within the same family, and this challenge has been exacerbated with the dominance of screens over individuals’ time.

The report pointed out that, according to the announced figures, the percentage of Internet users in the UAE reached 99% of the total population, and the purposes of using the Internet were multiple, ranging from social communication, work, and searching for information, to learning, entertainment, and shopping, all the way to public services.

The committee that prepared the report stated that these data represent a clear indication of the depth of the impact of the widespread use of the Internet and social media on family life patterns, as the spread of media and social networking has changed the nature of interaction within the family, and weakened direct communication between its members, making them more vulnerable to the effects of intrusive thoughts and uncontrolled content spread in the digital space.

A recent study on the role of the Emirati family showed that globalization had a clear impact in introducing new values into the family structure at a rate of 77.27%, and revealed that 73.64% of children do not prefer to use social media in front of their parents. The results indicate that unconscious use of social media has contributed to the escalation of family problems, especially with the spread of the phenomenon of publishing private life details on these means by children and adults without realizing the consequences of that, which has led to an increase in cases of electronic blackmail, exploitation and bragging. With possessions and appearances, these are behaviors that threaten the stability and cohesion of the family.

The report stressed that the media and social communication directly affect the spread of wrong concepts about marriage and family, and that they are one of the most serious challenges facing Emirati society at the present time, as these concepts threaten the fundamental foundations of societal stability in the long term. Some digital content presents marriage as a temporary relationship that can be terminated at the first dispute or challenge, or as an economic agreement based on mutual material interests, ignoring the sacred nature of the marital bond and its importance as a basis for building the family and society, which is considered a superficial perception of marriage that is fundamentally contradictory. With the authentic Emirati values and the provisions of the Islamic religion, which consider marriage a solid covenant and a sacred bond based on patience, understanding, and joint work, to build a stable future for future generations.

Distorted perceptions

The Federal National Council report warned that these misleading concepts encourage leniency in decisions about engagement and separation, as they underestimate the importance of psychological, spiritual and social preparation for married life, and portray the process of choosing a life partner as a passing decision that does not require careful study or mature thinking. They also promote dangerous ideas that portray children as a heavy burden, or as a restriction that limits the parents’ freedom and personal ambitions. This distorted perception leads to a decline in childbearing rates and a direct negative impact on the sustainability of the building. Family in society.

abayoumy@ey.ae