Kaspersky and the UAE Cyber Security Council Report on Navigating the Digital Age of Parenting

Kaspersky, in collaboration with the UAE Cyber Security Council, has released a report entitled “Growing Up Online”, exploring the nuances of children’s online behavior and offering guidance to parents navigating the complexities of digital parenting. The report dives into several important factors, including time spent online, social networking and the psychological impact of children using gadgets. It also addresses significant concerns related to online threats including privacy issues and cyberbullying.

In today’s digital age the world is more connected than ever – children included.  As students ease their way back into the school term, families across the UAE are swapping their children’s gadgets for school books. Although the recent report shows that the majority (93%) of parents provide their children with gadgets for educational reasons, one of the most pressing issues is the time kids spend online. In fact, 30% of UAE parents reported having conflicts with their children due to their online life, with the main reason being the time spent online for 64% of parents. The survey also shows that the older the children get, the more time they spend online, increasing the likelihood of gadget addiction, hence 92% of parents choose to limit their child’s screen time.

Digital addiction has proven to lead to high rates of negative emotions, especially with 80% of UAE children saying that they cannot live without gadgets. In the situation where their mobile phone runs out of battery and turns off, 45% of surveyed children reportedly feel very sad, 28% feel very angry, and 12% feel very scared. Unsurprisingly, such heightened emotions can cause conflicts between parents and children and can impact the child’s psychological wellbeing.