Today's Edition
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)
Eighty-six per cent of young children in the UAE regularly engage in digital activities, with those aged 5-8 seeing 97% rate of usage across digital media, according to new research, which the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) released on Tuesday.
Looking into youngsters’ use of digital media, the ECA polled more than 10,000 UAE residents for the landmark survey. The preliminary research, which focused on parents of children between 0 and 8 years old, found that almost 70% were satisfied with the amount of time their young child spends on digital media.
The study was the first step towards creating a more comprehensive framework and guide for parents that could later become a reference for schools and policymakers, said Hamda Al Suwaidi, Head of Research and Continuous Development, Knowledge and Impact at ECA, in an interview with Aletihad.
“What provoked this research project to start with was ECA’s adamance to put children at the centre of everything that’s happening around the world,” she said on the sidelines of the Digital Wellbeing Symposium, which was organised by the ECA and hosted by New York University Abu Dhabi.
“Today, we live in a digital world, and with the rise of AI, there’s a lot of questions around it. We want to first understand people’s worries, so we can help resolve them.”
The impact of technology on children has been a hot topic globally, with many parents and governments grappling with how to manage the intergenerational shift and guard their children against the negative impacts of the digital world.
More than half of the surveyed UAE parents (55%) viewed digital media as a valuable tool for supporting their child’s learning. However, they remained cautious about how technology is being used by their child, with 82% choosing to set rules about which apps or platforms their children can use; 71% placing screen-time limits; and 60% allowing media only during specified times.
Certainly, the research supported the hypothesis that young children were highly engaged with digital media, with usage patterns differing by age. While majority of kids are into digital activities, 75% of those under the age of 2 are not being exposed to digital media at all, the research showed. Children aged 5-8 see 97% rate of usage, it added.
In The Works: A Content Rating System for Parents
With this significant study, the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority is focused not on combatting the use of digital devices but rather creating a safer environment that parents can navigate, said Al Suwaidi.
The authority is now working on a “rating system” that can serve as a guide for parents, she said.
“We are developing this rating system that is research-backed and will inform parents on what content and apps are appropriate. It will be more than a simple rating, but a comprehensive guide on the benefits and drawbacks of online media,” Al Suwaidi said.
“You cannot eliminate digital gadgets from their life; so the question is, what’s beneficial and what is not?” This is where the upcoming rating system can help.
More Survey Findings
Children in Abu Dhabi receive their first digital device at the average age of 3 years and 4 months, the research showed. The primary device which young children use is a digital tablet (68%), followed by a smartphone (12%).
When it comes to parents’ worries, the primary concerns on children’s digital media exposure revolved around behavioural issues, social isolation, and excessive use. Only 11% of parents cited safety and privacy risks as top concerns.
Meanwhile, early learning activities and Arabic language videos ranked the highest by parents in their digital content choices.
It also found that parents spent twice as much time engaging with their child in traditional (non-digital) activities as they did in digital ones.
