More than 1 in 3 families in Sharjah do not monitor children's online activity

YouTube and gaming websites were most commonly visited

A Child Safety Department study found that that more than a third of Sharjah families do not monitor their children's online activity. Courtesy: Child Safety Department

More than a third of families living in Sharjah do not monitor the online activities of their children, according to a recent study.

The emirate's Child Safety Department's (CSD) survey of more than 12,000 families over 14 months found that 37.6 per cent of respondents left their children to their own devices online.

However, the survey also showed that 10.4 per cent of parents did not allow their children to access the internet at all, while 23.5 per cent offered them internet access "only sometimes".

More than half of parents polled – 55 per cent – used parental controls to monitor online activity and downloads.

But  7 per cent did not know such controls existed.

The Child Safety Department conducted the survey of more than 12,000 families, over a 14-month period. Courtesy: Child Safety Department

The websites most visited by children in the survey were YouTube and gaming platforms.

A representative sample was selected at random among Emirati and  foreign resident families in 2018 and 2019.

"The data obtained will help the growth and prosperity of society, and ensure protection of its youngest members who are most vulnerable to online crimes and internet addiction," said Hanadi Saleh Al Yafei, director of the CSD.

Results also revealed behavioural changes observed by parents in their children, as a result of access to the internet.

The most significant was "intellectual development", according to respondents, while "academic achievement" was ranked as the least significant.

The study suggested partnering with nurseries and schools to develop programmes that raise awareness about e-safety and potential dangers online.

Data was collected by a field team from the Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development.

Sharjah children's reading festival

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  A young visitor reads from her book at Sharjah children's reading festival at Expo Centre, Sharjah. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Hajar Yousef tells stories in arabic at Sharjah children's reading festival.

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  Arts and crafts at Fairy tale corner at Sharjah children's reading festival.

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  A drumming workshop takes place at Sharjah children's reading festival.

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  Fajer 12, takes a look at a peep show and sees and elephant at Sharjah children's reading festival.

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  Darth Vader makes an appearance in the comic book section at Sharjah children's reading festival.

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  Children look at their favourite books at the Sharjah children's reading festival.