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2/18/26, 12:44 PM Education, Human Development And Community Development Council Discusses Regulating Children’s Use Of Social Media…
adaptable to accelerating global transformations. Such policies should be designed to ensure
sustainable impact, enhance quality of life, and strengthen long-term investment in human
capital.

Furthermore, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasised the need to strengthen
community awareness and ensure effective integration among stakeholders in regulating
children’s use of social media. This includes coordinated engagement across social,
technical, educational, security, media, and health sectors to advance a balanced framework
that combines appropriate regulation with empowerment and fosters the responsible use of
modern technologies.
For her part, H.H. Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that empowering
the family represented a key pillar in addressing rapid digital transformations, noting the
importance of equipping families with the necessary tools and knowledge to confidently and
responsibly navigate these changes, thereby strengthening their role in guidance,
supervision, and fostering healthy digital habits among children.

She explained that regulating children’s use of social media is not only limited to content
considerations but also extends to its direct impact on family relationships, the quality of
communication at home, children’s engagement in real-life activities, and the potential impact
on cognitive development. This includes areas concerning the ability to focus, level of
attention, and time management.

H.H. Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed further emphasised that early intervention
during foundational developmental stages is critical to cultivate healthy digital habits, thereby
promoting balanced technology use from an early age and mitigating potential adverse
effects on behavioral and cognitive development.

She noted that the family serves as the Primary reference point for children’s digital conduct,
and that achieving balance begins with positive role modeling at home, thoughtful regulation
of screen time, and strengthened family dialogue.

Additionally, H.H. Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the importance of
advancing children’s digital well-being and safeguarding their mental health amid increasing
engagement with digital platforms, with the aim of ensuring balanced emotional and social
development.
She affirmed that nurturing a well-rounded generation requires strong alignment between
schools and families. This must be supported by a value-based framework that reinforces
national identity and belonging, while fostering critical thinking and the responsible use of
modern technologies.

The meeting, which was held virtually, was attended by Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al
Owais, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs; Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrui,
Minister of Community Empowerment; Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of Education; Dr.
Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and
Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Sana bint Mohammed Suhail,
Minister of Family; Dr. Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; Hajer
Ahmed Al Thehli, Secretary-General of the Education, Human Development and Community
Development Council; Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the
National Media Authority; Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of
the UAE Government Cybersecurity Council; Eng. Majid Sultan Al Mesmar, Director-General
of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority; and Brigadier
Dr. Rashid Khalfan Al Dhakhri Rapporteur of the Digital Wellbeing Council.

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