By Amit Kakkar, Managing Editor
Digital technology has become an inseparable part of childhood in the UAE, shaping how children learn, communicate, and entertain themselves. While the digital world offers immense opportunities, it also exposes young users to serious risks that are often hidden behind screens and seemingly harmless apps. Children today are navigating social media platforms, online games, video-sharing sites, and AI-powered tools at an age when they are still developing judgment, emotional resilience, and critical thinking skills. This makes them particularly vulnerable to digital traps such as online predators, cyberbullying, misinformation, inappropriate content, scams, and excessive screen dependency. In a fast-connected society like the UAE, where internet penetration is high and devices are easily accessible, these risks can quietly escalate if not addressed with care, awareness, and responsibility.
One of the most pressing digital dangers for children is interaction with strangers online. Gaming platforms and social media often allow direct messaging, where children may unknowingly engage with people who misrepresent their identity or intentions. This can lead to grooming, manipulation, or emotional exploitation. Cyberbullying is another growing concern, where children may face repeated harassment, humiliation, or peer pressure in digital spaces that feel inescapable. Unlike traditional bullying, online abuse can follow a child home and continue around the clock, affecting mental health, confidence, and academic performance. In addition, children are frequently exposed to content that is not appropriate for their age, including violence, harmful challenges, or distorted portrayals of reality. With the rise of artificial intelligence, deepfake images, fake voices, and misleading information can further confuse young minds, making it harder for them to distinguish what is real from what is manipulated.
Preventing children from falling into these digital traps requires more than strict rules or fear-based warnings; it calls for a balanced approach rooted in trust, education, and guidance. Open and ongoing communication between parents and children is essential. When children feel safe talking about their online experiences without fear of punishment, they are more likely to report uncomfortable interactions or suspicious content. Adults must take time to understand the platforms children use, not to control every action, but to provide informed guidance. Teaching children basic digital awareness—such as the importance of protecting personal information, questioning unfamiliar messages, and understanding that not everything online is true—helps them develop confidence and caution at the same time. In the UAE, where strong family values and community responsibility are deeply rooted, this guidance can be reinforced both at home and in schools.
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Equally important is the responsible use of technology by adults themselves. Children often model their online behaviour on what they see around them, so mindful screen use, respectful communication, and healthy digital boundaries set a powerful example. Parental controls and privacy settings can act as supportive tools, but they should never replace conversation and education. Schools also play a vital role by integrating digital literacy and online safety into learning environments, helping children understand their rights, responsibilities, and the consequences of unsafe online behaviour. The UAE’s commitment to child protection through laws and awareness initiatives further strengthens this collective effort, emphasizing that online safety is a shared duty between families, educators, technology providers, and society as a whole.
Ultimately, protecting children from digital risks is about empowering them rather than restricting them. When children are taught to think critically, act responsibly, and seek help when needed, they are far less likely to fall into online traps. The goal is not to shield them completely from the digital world, but to equip them with the knowledge and values needed to navigate it safely, confidently, and ethically in an increasingly connected UAE.
The article is based on research and observations highlighting the evolving digital threats to children.
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