(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Top UAE officials and experts voiced their concern over the 'tech addiction' that has been sweeping across the world today, saying that it's high time that the youth were taught how to use gadgets, computers and gaming consoles responsibly.
Coming together for the Sharjah Ramadan Majlis at Al Majaz Amphitheatre on Wednesday night, the thought leaders tackled how such an addiction can affect a child's development and what must be done to address it.
In the UAE, an average resident spends as much as eight hours a day on the Internet and three hours on social media, said TV presenter Maryam Allay, who was also the moderator of the session titled 'Electronic Addiction and Societal Impact'.
Every home, in fact, has its share of "tech addicts", and video games have become extremely popular among people of all ages, she said.
Several studies have shown that a huge chunk of a person's day is spent with his face glued to a device, and according to Saeed Al Rumaithi, Member of the Federal National Council (FNC), this trend is one of the most serious issues the world faces today.
"As a father of five young children, I am very concerned about the issue of electronic addiction among the youth.Today's smartphones and tablets are so advanced and versatile that it is like having the power of 10 devices in one," he said.
While he is worried about addiction, Al Rumaithi doesn't recommend a ban on tech devices.
Comparing the use of technology to swimming, he said it is important for parents to teach their children how to "swim in the sea of technology", rather than stopping them from going near the sea. He even recalled a campaign by a group of families some time ago against devices like tablets and smartphones - wondering if such steps really worked.
Instead of avoiding tech altogether, the FNC member said clear lines must be drawn between the use and abuse of gadgets. After all, technology is here to stay and it is bound to shape the future of today's youth, Al Rumaithi added.
Sharing the official's sentiment, Hanadi Saleh Al Yafei, director of the child safety department of Sharjah, said people need to rationalise the use of technology and social media among children.
"As parents, we must take the initiative and responsibility to protect our children from the harmful effects of technology and the Internet. How children use technology and devices like smartphones and tablets is a question that should be determined by us. It is our responsibility," she said.
Speaking from her experience of dealing with her five-year-old son who got addicted to a video game, Al Yafei said much of the content shared online - including games - is not suitable for young children and could cause "irreparable emotional and psychological harm".
How to address the issue
Maj-Gen Abdul Rahman Al Tamimi, director of the Ministry of Interior's Centre for Child Protection, attributed the tech addiction to the excessive free time that is given to children.
If only the youngsters are engaged in other productive, positive activities, then they wouldn't be too engrossed in video games, he said.
Al Tamimi said many of those addicted to the Internet and video games lack social skills and develop a totally different persona online, which may have ill effects on their mental health.
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