“Digital isolation” follows family members to breakfast tables

Parents of students, educators, and specialists confirmed to Emirates Al-Youm that excessive attachment to screens inside homes threatens family cohesion and undermines the bridges of dialogue between its members, pointing out that this preoccupation is no longer a passing behavior, but rather has turned into a gateway to psychological pressure and social isolation that is reflected in society.

They explained that the challenge escalates in the holy month of Ramadan, which is associated in societal memory with gatherings and the warmth of gatherings after breaking the fast. However, some homes witness a remarkable presence of phones and smart devices at the table, in contrast to the decline in dialogues that represent the spirit of the month.

In detail, the father, Abdullah Al-Awaid Al-Muhairi, who is retired from a government agency, said that smart devices had a direct negative impact on children, extending to the entire family, explaining that excessive use of them contributed to creating a state of distance and estrangement within some homes, and weakened the expression of affection and tenderness between children and their families.

He affirmed his support for delaying granting children smart devices until after the age of 16 years, while providing realistic alternatives that enhance social interaction, such as supporting sports clubs, and establishing neighborhood parks equipped with safe facilities that provide spaces for play and activity away from screens.

The father, Muhammad Saleh Badah Al-Awadi (Abu Aida), who is retired from the Ministry of Interior, said: “We must take from development what benefits us, and leave what harms our interconnectedness. Man is the one who created the phone and is the one most capable of controlling it.”

He stressed the importance of legalizing use, especially in light of the designation of 2026 as the “Year of the Family” in implementation of the directives of the wise leadership. He said that children’s preoccupation with phones contributed to a decline in family warmth compared to the past.

In turn, Mona Al-Suwaidi, a housewife, said that digital isolation has become one of the most prominent challenges that threaten family warmth, calling for rearranging priorities within homes, reviving family councils, and allocating time free of devices. She added that enhancing family dialogue and monitoring the impact of digital content on children represent an essential pillar for restoring balance.

Working mother, Mayada Hassan, stated that work pressures reduce family time, leaving a void that may push children to spend more time in front of screens in search of entertainment or digital communication, stressing that weak interaction reflects negatively on family dialogue and makes devices an easy substitute for emotional presence.

She stressed the need to allocate daily periods free of devices, while investing in holidays and joint activities to enhance interconnection, pointing out that the solution does not lie in prevention, but in conscious management of use so that it does not overwhelm communication within the home.

As for the educator, Dr. Faris Al-Jabour, he saw that digital isolation has created a clear paradox, as family members gather in one place, while each individual is preoccupied with his screen, pointing out that excessive use of devices reduces emotional interaction, which is the basis for building family cohesion.

Educator, Salma Eid, called for adopting simple and sustainable family initiatives to confront the phenomenon, such as allocating an “hour of daily dialogue” without phones, the “Day Without a Screen” initiative, reviving family visits and home councils, in addition to involving children in joint activities that enhance family belonging and interaction, stressing that technology is not an enemy in itself, but it may unconsciously turn into a silent barrier separating family members.

Member of the Federal National Council, Mona Rashid Tahnoun, also called for strengthening conscious control over children’s use of social media, and protecting them from any content that may affect their values ​​and behavior.

She stressed the need to rebuild communication on the basis of dialogue, listening, and actual human presence.

The director of the Aman Center for Women and Children in Ras Al Khaimah, Khadija Al-Ajel, said that the effects of digital isolation have become tangible within families, explaining that children spending long hours in front of screens reduces opportunities for normal communication with parents, and makes it difficult to meet their emotional needs in the desired manner.

She added that many of the cases of family disintegration that reach the center are related to poor communication and each individual’s preoccupation with his or her own digital world.

The head of the Ras Al Khaimah Girl Guides Scouts, Maryam Al Shehhi, said that the values ​​of Emirati society are based on respecting the family and preserving shared time between its members, stressing that progress is welcome as long as it does not weaken identity or traditions, noting that technology was created to enhance communication, not weaken it, but the absence of clear boundaries has led to adverse results that require awareness and control.

Digital technology expert, Shadi Diab, stated that dealing with the challenges associated with excessive use of screens requires a balanced vision based on managing technology, not excluding it. He explained that the solution is not limited to reducing hours of use, but rather extends to investing digital tools in awareness to enhance communication between family members.

He pointed out the importance of activating parental control systems, adopting time management applications, and setting notifications, in addition to setting clear usage periods, in a way that reduces distraction and enhances focus and family interaction.

Family guidance and family and child media specialist, Dr. Saeed Al-Amoudi, stated that the scene of the family meeting in one place while each individual is busy with his screen is a recurring phenomenon known as “digital isolation,” stressing that it has transformed from an exception to a pattern that directly affects the quality of family relationships.

He pointed out that the excessive use of smart devices weakens emotional interaction and dialogue within the home, adding that children and adolescents bear the consequences of this pattern, as excessive use is linked to poor concentration, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and a decline in social skills, stressing that the problem often does not lie in the phone itself, but in the absence of organization and dialogue, and that the solution lies in conscious use, finding attractive alternatives, and strengthening family role models.

Mental health doctor, Iman Muhammad, said that excessive use of screens may turn into compulsive behavior if it is associated with clear social withdrawal, a decline in academic performance, or sleep and mood disturbances, stressing the importance of early intervention through behavioral counseling sessions, training the family on digital time management, and monitoring warning indicators before the condition worsens.

She stated that the adolescence stage, by its nature, pushes its users to search for belonging and social interaction, which makes digital platforms a very attractive environment for this group, calling for the provision of realistic and safe alternatives that enhance social satisfaction within the family and school, instead of limiting themselves to warnings against use.

Muhammad Saleh Badah:

• Children’s preoccupation with phones has contributed to a decline in family warmth compared to the past.

Mona Al Suwaidi:

• Digital isolation is the most prominent challenge for families, and we must rearrange the priorities of homes.