"Dubai Women and Children Care" Promotes family awareness of digital challenges

Dubai, July 2, 2017 / WAM / The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, in cooperation with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, organized a virtual awareness lecture entitled “Our Children in the Digital World” as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance family awareness of the challenges and variables associated with the digital space and to enable families to accompany their children on their digital journey with awareness and responsibility.

The lecture presented by Amna Al-Mutawa, Director of Psychological Services at the Foundation, discussed the nature of the digital environment in which children and adolescents live today and the most prominent challenges they may face across various platforms and applications, in addition to the importance of building bridges of communication and dialogue between parents and children and enhancing mutual trust in a way that contributes to protecting children and supporting their psychological and social development in the digital world.

It reviewed a set of practical practices that help parents understand their children’s digital behaviors, keep up with their interests, and direct them towards the safe and responsible use of technology, thus enhancing their ability to benefit from the opportunities provided by the digital world and reduce its potential risks.

Meanwhile, the Foundation launched, through its official accounts on social media platforms, an awareness campaign entitled “Our Children in the Digital World… Protection and Awareness” with the aim of raising families’ awareness of the importance of a positive presence in children’s digital lives, encouraging open dialogue with them, and promoting a culture of safe and responsible use of modern technologies.

The campaign addresses a number of emerging issues, most notably artificial intelligence, cyberbullying, the challenges associated with games and digital platforms, the importance of reporting and seeking help when exposed to risks, and enhancing family dialogue skills, which contributes to building a safer digital environment for children.

Her Excellency Sheikha Saeed Al Mansouri, Acting Director-General of the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, stressed that protecting children in the digital age has become a shared responsibility that requires integration of roles between the family, educational institutions and concerned parties, noting that the rapid developments in technology require continuous keeping pace that enhances the ability of families to understand the digital world in which children are growing up today.

She added that the recent national trends aimed at enhancing the safety of children in the digital space, including initiatives related to regulating children’s access to some digital services and platforms according to controls that take into account their ages and needs, reflect a proactive vision that places the child’s interest and well-being at the top of priorities and confirms that protecting children is a collective responsibility that requires awareness and active participation from everyone.

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