iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
Meet two expats who became like family in UAE households
KT APPDOWNLOAD
UAE: 9-year-old mentors peers on cyber safety, bullying in student-led govt programme
With the large-scale usage of social media, online bullying has become widespread in educational settings, particularly in schools
On Wednesday morning, nine-year-old Abdurrahman Ali Al Mulla stood in front of more than 25 students of Blossoms Nursery to tell them about safe practices while browsing the internet.
“I talked to them about how they should not click on any suspicious links or ad pop-ups when it comes,” he said. “I explained how to put strong passwords for their online accounts. I also tried to tell them about bullying in age-appropriate terms, but they were too young to understand how that works. They could not understand why someone would be mean to another person online.”
Abdurrahman is one of the several children who have been trained as Digital Safety Ambassadors by the Sharjah Government Social Services Department, Sharjah Media and Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) – Dubai. Since undergoing the 5-day training in January, he and his friends have delivered more than 17 sessions to students of various ages across Sharjah.
Abdurrahman Ali Al Mulla
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Several government agencies and educational institutes are recognising the importance of student-led safety programmes to keep children safe online. Earlier this week, a 11-year-old Emirati student was admitted to ICU after facing intense bullying online for her participation in a reality show.
Abdurrahman said that he changed his mode of delivery depending on the age of the people he was speaking to. He said that some of their participants confided in them. “One of the boys in my last session said that because he wore glasses, he was picked on and called 'the boy with four eyes',” he said. “So, we spoke to him about how upsetting it was and how he could respond to these people by ignoring them. When people don’t respond, bullies get bored and move on.”
Peer-led programs
According to Noona Nafousi, founder and lead coach at Neo Noor, peer-led programmes are not just important but “essential” to getting messages across to youngsters. “Kids listen to kids. It’s that simple,” she said. “They are their biggest influencers. These programmes empower young people to step into leadership roles, building their confidence while supporting others."
"Yes, other interventions have their place, but nothing compares to the impact of peer-led initiatives in mental health. They create a sense of community, take away the stigma, and help participants feel seen, heard, and understood by someone who truly 'gets it'. Someone who is at their level," she added.
Many schools have sought to capitalise on this community feeling by recruiting several students as mental health ambassadors. “We appoint anti-bullying and well-being secretary as a part of the students’ council,” said Deepika Thapar Singh, CEO and principal of Credence High School. “They focus on digital well-being and organise sensitisation sessions to stand up against bullying and report bullies.”
Deepika Thapar Singh
She said that with the large-scale usage of social media, online bullying has become widespread in educational settings, particularly in schools. “It typically manifests in several forms: verbal bullying, characterised by name-calling, teasing, or threats; social or relational bullying, where students are excluded, gossiped about, or humiliated to damage their social standing,” she said. “This causes significant emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical harm, affecting a student’s well-being, academic performance, and social relationships.”
ALSO READ:
More news from UAE
He recalls how their giraffe used to serve as a local landmark for locals — and why they once had to put down 300 venomous cobras
Experts advise coping strategies like acknowledging emotions, seeking support from family, and finding meaningful ways to help
A top official also called on United Nations experts to review the evidence and examine the damage caused by the attack
This time, registrants will be able to win a chance to bring two guests to Dubai with Emirates flights and hotel accommodation
Updated rules have been issued for these commuters as experts call for safer batteries to avoid the risk of spontaneous combustion on trains
Both parties also confirmed their shared commitment to improving cooperation in artificial intelligence, especially after the President's recent historic visit to the US
A second accident was reported along the same stretch near Dubai Parks and Resorts