Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
Raising digital natives demands safety measures that go beyond physical dangers, and the first-of-its-kind UAE Children’s Digital Wellbeing Pact serves as a prime example of how to protect the youth as they log in and explore their online spaces.
Signed earlier this year, the pact has brought together tech giants, social media platforms, and telecom providers to introduce features — from parental controls to content filters — that strengthen online protections for kids.
The UAE’s dedication to safeguarding children in the digital age is reflected in this pact, said Fatima Nasser Al Melhi, Director of Special Projects at the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), in an interview with Aletihad.
The ECA is one of the main entities that worked on the initiative with the UAE Digital Wellbeing Council, in coordination with its strategic partners.
“At ECA, we believe every child deserves to thrive safely both offline and online,” Al Melhi said. “The pact safeguards children from harmful content, promotes responsible use of AI, and strengthens digital literacy among families and educators.”
Within the first year of the pact’s launch, some game-changing safety features went online.
Snapchat’s Family Center facilitates privacy-conscious parental monitoring, while e& UAE’s new Kids SIM Card and Parental Control Service enhance secure connectivity. Meta’s new Teen Accounts on Instagram offer integrated safeguards for users under 16.
“These are a few examples amongst other tools and functions that the platforms invested in. We encourage parents to explore these and use with their children where applicable,” Al Melhi said.
In addition to regulating internet content, the initiative seeks to equip educators, parents, and caregivers with the skills and information necessary to guide children in their digital journey.
“The first line of defence is awareness,” said Al Melhi. “Our partners are actively contributing to that.”
The ECA is planning community and school workshops in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra with an aim to support parents in understanding their children’s digital wellbeing.
The sessions will help them “recognise early signs of online risk, understand what to look out for in their children’s digital behaviour, and use the right parental controls to monitor and guide their activity safely”, Al Melhi said.
She highlighted that signs of distress, abuse, or risky behaviour now surface through children’s online activity.
By increasing awareness and encouraging open communication at home, “initiatives under the pact make these warning signs more visible to parents”, she said.
Al Melhi urged parents to explore the tools and resources developed by the pact’s members.
“By seeking out these resources and staying engaged, parents can play an active role in shaping a safer, more positive digital world for their children,” she said.
