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Here are some important suggestions to help keep children safe in the digital world. First, schools should include lessons about online safety in their classes. Additionally, every school should have a coordinator responsible for ensuring the safety of students when using technology. It's also crucial to teach parents how to use technology thoughtfully and keep an eye on their children's online activities.
Furthermore, there are proposals to share the successful "Digital Life Ambassadors" program among various educational institutions. This program could help provide mental health support to students and teachers through online counseling services. To raise awareness about responsible technology use, events like "Digital Week" should be organized.
Forum participants have suggested inviting big tech companies to collaborate on community and technical support agreements to safeguard children online. They also called for a national hotline where people can report any online abuse or problems.
Additionally, it’s important to enhance everyone’s skills in social and digital education, encouraging more people to get involved. Children and young people should also play a role in coming up with solutions to protect themselves and their peers online.
At the family level, the recommendations called on parents to use parental control software to determine what content is allowed for children, set screen and technology usage times based on age, monitor inappropriate apps and websites, and educate them not to share passwords, even with friends.
It also warned against opening suspicious links or downloading files from unreliable sources. It recommended postponing the use of social media for children under 13, incorporating digital child rights concepts into school activities and curricula, developing a comprehensive national policy for digital child protection in partnership with all parties, and developing training programs for teachers and specialists to address digital challenges.
The forum emphasized the need to encourage national research and studies on the impact of the digital world on children and use their findings to inform policy development. It also emphasized the need to launch sustainable media campaigns to promote a culture of safe and responsible digital use, and to support and respond quickly to digital reporting systems for children.
He also called for the production of local digital content for children that promotes safe digital values and behavior, the issuance of a digital guide for families on managing children's use of smart devices, the regular review and updating of local legislation on cybercrimes against children, and the strengthening of the role of cybersecurity authorities in monitoring and protecting children from digital threats.
Captain Dr. Ashba Hamad Al Ketbi, who leads the Database Branch at Sharjah Police, highlighted the crucial role of families in protecting children. She pointed out that a supportive family helps children feel secure and encourages them to share any fears or dangers they might face.
Dr. Al Ketbi also stressed the importance of staying alert in today's fast-changing world, especially with the rise of various online threats. These include issues like online bullying, scams, inappropriate content, and more, which can affect children's safety. It’s essential for everyone to be aware and proactive in keeping kids safe from these dangers.
For her part, Joelle Chamoun, a lecturer at the Higher Colleges of Technology, explained in her paper, "The Role of the Teacher in Protecting Students in the Educational Environment and Promoting Digital Literacy," that a new disease has begun to spread, known as "nomophobia," a fear of losing one's mobile phone, and that it affects adults and children alike. She noted that some children experience screaming and nervous outbursts when their phones are taken away from them, a worsening phenomenon that requires immediate intervention.
She added that what is required today is a complete ban on the use of phones and smart devices for children under the age of three, and the provision of alternatives such as reading, drawing, sports, and cultural activities. She described phone addiction among family members as a dangerous "social trend," requiring a "digital detox," a temporary cessation of smart devices similar to cleansing the body of toxins.
She also highlighted the role of teachers in promoting a culture of digital protection through awareness-raising courses and workshops, and the need to highlight the dangers of some video games that attract underage children, such as Roblox.
Alia Al Shamsi, a Compliance Management Expert at the Sharjah Private Education Authority, recently discussed the organization's commitment to creating a safe online learning environment for students. She mentioned that they are keeping a close eye on 230 private schools in the area to ensure they are meeting standards. One important step the authority is taking is making sure that teachers are properly licensed through specific tests. Additionally, they have put in place new rules to promote positive behavior in technology use, aiming to help schools make responsible and safe use of tech a priority.
At the end of the session, Jawaher Abdullah, a social education expert from the Social Services Department, introduced an exciting new program called the "Safe Digital Life Ambassadors." This initiative aims to teach people about the importance of staying safe online and being responsible in their digital interactions. Launched in 2024 to align with Safer Internet Day, the program is designed to help students build important leadership skills and develop values that promote safety in the digital world.
Jawaher shared that the program involved a thorough process for selecting participants, followed by intensive training on various important topics, thanks to collaboration with experienced organizations. The initiative offered over 49 training courses, including 26 focused on improving the quality of life in our digital spaces, 20 on how to navigate the transformations happening in our technology, and three dedicated to understanding cybersecurity—essentially, how to protect ourselves online."
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