Social Media Usage Among Emirati Digital Natives

Social media usage has increased in the past few years and is not limited to a specific age group. Digital Natives who were born surrounded with this technology are also taking part in this new trend and it¿s becoming easier as Smartphone ownership is increasing amongst children. Social networks play an important role in the development of a Childs¿ overall social and emotional maturation Young people today routinely post and share personal information and opinions on various social media platforms not fully considering the potential consequences and lack of understanding of online privacy issues. Knowing the extent of young Emirati children¿s¿ social media usage and the purposes they use it for can tell us a lot about this sensitive demographic. This research attempted to determine Emirati children¿s activities online, whether they were subject to cyberbullying and what they did to prevent future cyberbullying. Monitoring youngsters¿ online activities can be tricky if they have their own Smartphone device. This study looked at parental involvement to see whether parents have a role in reducing cyberbullying and increasing their child¿s safety online.