Keeping teens safe online is a shared responsibility

By fostering ongoing conversations about the realities of digital life—both the opportunities and the risks—families can build trust and understanding

- Jawaher Abdelhamid

As online spaces become an integral part of how teens connect, create and grow, the demands of modern parenting extend beyond schools, classrooms and everyday life into helping them navigate the digital world with awareness, safety and confidence.

The question of how to create a safer online ecosystem for teens is one that demands urgent, collective attention. The UAE has long demonstrated leadership in promoting digital wellbeing, with initiatives such as the Pact in partnership with Digital Wellbeing Council paving the way for safer and more age-appropriate online experiences. As access to technology increasingly blurs the lines between the virtual and physical worlds, policymakers, technology platforms, and families have a shared responsibility to create environments that promote the healthy development of young people.

For today's teens, whose lives are entwined with digital interactions, safety must start with intentional design. Social platforms play a critical role here—not only in providing innovative features but also in addressing the unique challenges posed by the evolving online landscape. Recent global research shows that parents' concerns remain consistent: from exposure to harmful content and cyberbullying to the ongoing risks around data privacy. This highlights the importance of embedding safety measures into the foundations of digital products rather than treating them as optional add-ons.