WAM Hessa Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development and Vice Chairman of the Digital Wellbeing Council, says building a positive digital reality is becoming more crucial during the pandemic.
She made the statement during a media briefing organised by the Ministry to announce the details of the National Digital Wellbeing Policy which was approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Cabinet’s session last week.
The UAE is on top of the global ranking list in the internet and social networking group indicators with 99 per cent. The country also topped the world in the social networking indicators among the total population as well as the global index of subscriptions to mobile phones services with 187 per cent of the total population in 2019.
Amid pandemic, digital wellbeing is crucial
02 Feb 2021 Image for illustrative purpose only. It is heartening to note that the UAE has come out with a National Digital Wellbeing Policy. At a time when the pandemic has been continuing to wreak havoc across the world, the overemphasis on anything online cannot be ruled out.
Wellbeing, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the state of being or doing well in life; a happy, healthy, or prosperous condition. The wellbeing of human beings can only be ensured if all relevant areas are looked after. That includes digital wellbeing, taking care to be protected against any kind of cyber breaches that could affect the mind – and way of living.
UAE tops global rankings in Internet, social media usage
Saman Haziq/Dubai
(File)
Minister reveals details of the National Digital Wellbeing Policy on Monday.
The UAE has topped the global rankings in the digital wellbeing indicators with 99 per cent of its population using the Internet and social media communication, said Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, on Monday.
The minister also revealed details of the National Digital Wellbeing Policy, approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Cabinet’s session last week.
She noted that the ultimate goal of the policy is to ensure the digital wellbeing of citizens, maintain a balance between digital and real-life and raise awareness about the use of technology.
Abu Dhabi: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the national digital wellbeing policy that aims to create a safe digital community and promote a positive identity through appropriate digital interactions.
The policy was launched in the presence of Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and other ministers and senior officials.
The policy also aims to establish a framework for positive digital citizenship values and behaviour in the UAE. The 10- article policy covers the UAE’s legacy, digital reputation, respect for others, positive investment, good manners, digital privacy, publishing credibility, responsibility and systems, digital ethics and balanced usage.