The Emirates Safer Internet Society (eSafe) has announced the launch of its first international conference to discuss methods for the safety of children online and responsible use of smart devices entitled, "Children’s Well-being in a Digital World", on 6th February 2023, at the Anantara Eastern Mangroves Abu Dhabi under the auspices of H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mabarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister for Tolerance and Coexistence.
During a press conference held on 24th November 2022 in Abu Dhabi, Eng. Adel Salem Alkaff AlHashmi, Vice Chairman of eSafe and Conference Chairman, said that the conference highlights eSafe’s goals and its endeavors towards protecting children from dangers of using unsupervised internet usage, with the objective of finding efficient methods to ensure the safety of children’s gadget use and online activities.
The conference will also focus on three main themes: Safety of children in the digital world, well-being of children and families in the digital world, and the role of civic engagement and partnerships in promoting digital well-being to inspire a tech and internet savvy generation capable of responsibly navigating the virtual world.
Dr. Abdulla Mohamed Al Mehyas, Chairman, eSafe, said: "Our efforts to provide a secure internet for our children are based on the vision of our wise leadership in protecting the youth of the UAE. This approach was inspired by the late Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who always emphasized the need to prepare and build a strong competent generation who is ready to adapt to modernization, including its technological advancements, an approach that our leaders pursue consistently."
Eng. Adel Salem Alkaff AlHashmi, Vice Chairman of eSafe Society and Conference Chairman, added, "We recognize, at eSafe, that children are at risk of certain practices that threaten them online. Those risks involve psychological, physical and mental implications, especially when the internet is such a vast and unmonitored network with multi-media content that can negatively affect them.
It is our responsibility, as their guardians, to protect them from these threats. A majority of internet users are the youth, therefore they should learn and be guided on how to recognize negative aspects of technology and how to be responsible users of gadgets."
Eng AlHashemi stated that "The "Children’s Well-being in a Digital World" conference, which will be held on 6 February 2023, will be awarding public and private schools and universities that are distinguished in the field for using innovative technologies in the educational system while safeguarding the security of the Internet.
He further added that eSafe calls on all educational institutions in the UAE and abroad to apply for this award through the society's website.The more serious issue of cyberterrorism will also be discussed in the conference and parents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with UAE legislations in the field of information and digital security to gain ample knowledge and determine the need to report any incident of cyber-bullying and digital blackmail. This will also empower parents to teach their children about the risks of social isolation and addiction of certain electronic games.
Based on eSafe’s vision of protecting children and families from unsafe digital content and urging them to reap the benefits by introducing them to the tools they can use to protect themselves, more than 150 awareness-raising sessions were held in collaboration with government and private institutions to consolidate efforts to protect children and families.
eSafe works with the Higher Colleges of Technology by offering a program that educates students on cybersecurity and emotional intelligence. eSafe works in partnership with Disney International to develop a complete a guide for new parents on how to protect their children of age six years and below from unsafe exposure to the internet and gadget use.
eSafe has also partnered with TikTok to educate parents about internet security and protect children from the risks the platform may expose them to.