The Ministry of Interior warned of the spread of electronic games on the Internet that promote violence and suicide among children and young people, and cause severe harm to their users through virtual instructions that affect them.
While psychologists and educational specialists attributed the addiction of children and adolescents to electronic games to the lack of family control and leaving children behind the screens of electronic devices for long periods of time, they called on the competent authorities to ban such dangerous games, with the importance of integrating the role of the family and the school in enhancing students’ experiences regarding the optimal use of technology.
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Protection guidelines ■Monitoring children’s use of the Internet. ■Explore the child’s favorite websites. ■Create rules about the amount and quality of information the child can share with others. ■Establish a rule about what is acceptable and what is unacceptable. ■Encouraging the teenage son to be careful towards those he meets on the Internet. ■You must be vigilant and pay attention to the changes that occur in the son’s behavior or mood. ■Develop the skills a child needs to interact safely and respectfully online. ■Create rules that limit when children can play online games. ■Place the computer in a shared or visible location in the home. 95% of students are electronically active Reports of centers specialized in combating cybercrime in the Emirates indicate that the percentage of school students active in using social networks in the Emirates from the age of 14 to 18 years reaches 95%. Data from Kaspersky Lab, which specializes in Internet protection programs, shows that 80% of children in the Middle East are mostly interested in online means of communication, which in most cases are referred to as social media, and approximately the same percentage applies to children in the UAE. UAE, which shows a large social media presence in the region. The company has identified warning signs that will help parents determine whether there are problems facing their children on social media, including sudden changes in mood for no apparent reason, and changing the pattern of using digital devices and social networks (for example, children begin to wake up at night to access the Internet). “Education”: The subject “Digital Citizenship” raises awareness of safe dealing with technology Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Academic Affairs for General Education, Marwan Al-Sawaleh, said that the Ministry included the subject “Digital Citizenship” during the current year, to enable Emirati school students to make optimal use of modern technology, in a way that enhances their national identity and sense of private and public responsibility when dealing with… Applications of modern technology and its manifestations via the Internet. He explained that the book raised issues of safe dealing with modern technology, and how to make optimal use of smart applications and smart communication networks. It also provides an explanation of concepts related to the digital revolution, sheds light on the development of information technology in the United Arab Emirates, and also addresses the most important technological projects that made The country is among the most advanced countries at the regional level in the field of overcoming the digital divide and eradicating electronic literacy as well. Al-Sawaleh pointed out that the Ministry aims, through its qualification courses, to provide teachers with the skills of disseminating awareness messages among students, and to modify their behavior in the face of emerging contemporary issues in which technology and its multiple applications, whether recreational or educational, are a primary focus. In turn, the Executive Director of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, Fatima Ghanem Al Marri, stressed the importance of integrating the role of the family and the school in enhancing students’ experiences regarding the optimal use of technology, including making them aware of the dangers of playing electronic games, especially since international studies indicate the health and psychological risks they suffer from. Children due to excessive use of technology in general, and electronic games in particular. Al Marri added: “Technology is playing an increasing role in our children’s daily lives, and we encourage parents to share their children’s interests, and even work to find alternative interests in a framework of fun and enjoyment in partnership between school and home, which is beneficial in terms of building and refining their abilities and life skills.” ». |
The Emirates Society for Child Protection called for studying the obligation of Internet service providers in the country to provide free parental control capabilities, to limit and prevent the negative aspects resulting from negative and dangerous electronic content.
For its part, the Ministry of Education confirmed that it included the digital citizenship subject during the current year, to enable Emirati school students to benefit from modern technology, enhance their national identity, and feel a sense of private and public responsibility when dealing with various applications via the Internet, explaining that it aims to Its qualification courses provide teachers with the skills of disseminating awareness messages among students, and modifying their behavior in the face of emerging contemporary issues in which technology and its multiple applications, whether recreational or educational, constitute a fundamental focus.
Professor of Sociology, Dr. Ahmed Al-Amoush, said that the immersion of children and adolescents in the virtual world is a result of the absence of serious supervision by families and schools, which led to their addiction to electronic games, as a form of compensation for the emotional deficiency caused by the parents’ preoccupation with them, pointing out that This makes them eligible to commit mistakes and crimes against themselves or against society, and this was clearly evident in many teenagers following dangerous games, including the “Blue Whale Challenge” game, and ended up with them. It leads to suicide.
He added, “The virtual world contains a huge amount of ideas and information, in which good and bad are mixed, which makes the need to monitor websites and electronic games urgent, especially if what you publish targets society, which must
He joins hands to confront this danger facing his sons and daughters.”
For his part, educational expert, Ahmed Al Hosani, warned against electronic games that violate customs and traditions, explaining that the main reason for children falling prey to these games is often the absence of family control, and leaving children behind the screens of electronic devices for long periods of time, so the matter turns into a game for them. For entertainment, they become an addiction, and when they are deprived of it, they become extremely irritable and violent.
He stated that the virtual world is full of games of violence, blood, and strange ideas that are not appropriate for the ages of these children and teenagers, indicating that many children have the intellectual readiness to accept technology to the point of opening “encryption” of channels and games that are not always available at the level of technical authorities.
While the psychologist, Hind Ibrahim Abdullah, said: “Societies are witnessing a wide spread of electronic games on smart phones, tablets, and desktop computers, in addition to the multiplicity of social media means, and their competition in attracting followers. Electronic games are no longer limited to children, but rather have become an obsession for many young people and adults. However, the greatest danger remains that teenagers and young adults are drawn into these games without distinguishing between the beneficial and harmful ones.”
She believed that “the treatment of this problem begins with the family, so that the children’s parents set a period of time to play or search for modern devices (smartphones, computers), in addition to conducting a dialogue with the child about the game he is following on these devices, and participating in playing it. It is necessary to encourage children to replace electronic games with games that develop imagination and perception, such as cubes, and to practice drawing, music and exercise hobbies that keep their bodies fit and bring out the energy hidden within them.
For her part, the mother of an eleventh grade student, Sanaa Mahmoud, called on the competent authorities to tighten control over websites that publish dangerous games and ban them, because of their negative repercussions on male and female students, especially those in their teenage years, pointing out that family control will not be sufficient. To prevent them from playing such games, because children at this age feel independent, in addition to the fact that the family or school will not be under their supervision around the clock.
She pointed out that her son does not always obey her when she asks him not to follow the Internet for long periods, and therefore she is concerned about the possibility of him accessing sites that broadcast extremist ideas.
The father of a high school student, Adel Salah, said that he felt worried when he read about the “Blue Whale” game, which lures young people and teenagers into a competition that ends in death, exploiting their love of adventure, which drives them to go through the experience until the end, without caring about its consequences or outcome.
He stated that following children and teenagers on social media makes them prefer isolation from their surroundings, and pushes them to make reckless decisions that may harm them.
In addition, the supervisor of the Arabic language department in a private school in Dubai, Manal Al-Habbal, said that the school administration directed teachers to educate students, especially at the secondary level, against the dangers of dangerous electronic games, and also urged parents to monitor their sons and daughters when using modern technological means. Educating them against deviant ideas and dangerous games, or those that spread extremist ideas that are alien to the customs and traditions of society.
The Ministry of Interior warns of the spread of dangerous electronic applications
The Ministry of Interior has warned of the spread of electronic games on the Internet that promote violence and suicide among children and young people, and cause their users – especially children – severe harm that has reached the point of suicide through virtual instructions that affect them.
The Ministry, through the Child Protection Center, alerted to the importance of family monitoring of children’s playing electronic games over the Internet, and educating them not to play dangerous games, including the “Blue Whale” game, which recently caused a number of teenagers to commit suicide in some countries of the world, including Arab countries. The Child Protection Center indicated that the Ministry is closely monitoring the spread of dangerous electronic games during the recent period, and their impact on the behavior of young people and children, and in this context, it is carrying out awareness campaigns in councils and media platforms, to limit the practice of such games.
For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Society for Child Protection, Faisal Mohammed Al-Shammari, called for studying the obligation of Internet service providers in the country to provide free parental control capabilities, to limit and prevent the negative aspects resulting from negative and dangerous electronic content, especially those targeting children, as an example. This is what telecommunications companies in a number of other countries have done, as they quickly assumed their social, technical and civil responsibility, by developing and providing free parental control technologies to families to protect their children from the dangers and negatives of the Internet.
Al-Shammari stressed the importance of encouraging service providers to invest in awareness campaigns to protect children online, from various forms of Internet dangers, including negative content and dangerous interactive electronic games, including the “Blue Whale” game, which claimed the lives of a number of teenagers in Arab countries. He pointed out that measures must be taken at all levels, including the family, school, government institutions and the private sector, to enhance community awareness of the danger of electronic content, which aims to deceive young people and children or encourage them to practice violence or distort their sexual culture by watching pornographic materials or deceiving them and luring them to exploit them. Sexually, or adopting extremist ideas and beliefs, etc. He warned of the danger of electronic games that contain the “chat” feature, as they may result in the child becoming a victim of crimes such as sexual blackmail and luring to adopt extremist ideas through websites run by criminal and deviant networks, which confirms the responsibility of families to monitor their children, and the responsibility of companies providing the service to Providing oversight capabilities.
He pointed out that it is difficult to block such games, especially since children now have high skills in using modern technologies and the world of the Internet, and also in using websites and engines that enable them to play these games in different ways, so it is important to work on enhancing their awareness and self-control of safe use of the Internet. .
He said that the UAE is considered one of the first countries to pass laws concerned with children’s rights, and has signed a number of international agreements in this field, and has clear imprints in strengthening local and international efforts to protect children from any form of abuse or exploitation.
Member of the National Bank: The supervisory role of the school is greater than that of the family
Aisha bin Samnouh. From the source
Federal National Council member, Aisha Bin Samnouh, called on parents and competent authorities to play their roles and take the necessary measures to protect youth and children from dangerous electronic games, adding that “everyone, whether parents, the Ministry of Education, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, or clubs and councils, is required to raise awareness.” Our youth and children are against the behavior, games and bad ideas that are published on websites that are contrary to the customs and traditions of Emirati society.”
Bin Samnouh called on the Ministry of Education to play its role in educating and monitoring students against these games, pointing out that students spend most of the day in school, which makes their follow-up by teachers and school administrations greater than that of their parents.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority called for tightening control over the Internet and what is broadcast on it, and banning sites that publish such behavior and dangerous games.
She pointed out that “Arab thought is absent from producing games that promote belonging and good ideas in Arab societies, and these societies have turned into recipients of what others offer them.”
