How UAE parents keep kids away from harmful online challenges

Abu Dhabi - The latest bizarre challenge and dangerous prank to take over the social media platform TikTok is the 'skull breaker challenge'.

Online bizarre challenges are becoming a phenomenon with youngsters in different parts of the world attempting such dangerous games which is really scary.
The latest bizarre challenge and dangerous prank to take over the social media platform TikTok is the 'skull breaker challenge'. The dangerous challenge has reportedly injured teenagers in Canada and other parts of the world. It involves youngsters uploading videos of themselves tricking an unsuspecting friend or acquaintance into jumping in the air for a video. While airborne, the victim's legs are yanked from under him, making the person fall back flat on the ground.
A statement from TikTok said: "The safety and well-being of our users is a top priority at TikTok. As we make clear in our Community Guidelines, we do not allow content that encourages, promotes or glorifies dangerous challenges that might lead to injury. We will remove any such reported content."
The UAE Ministry of Education issued a warning over the weekend urging students not to play such dangerous challenges. An official from the ministry said safety officers at public schools Filterhave been instructed to monitor students closely to ensure they are not taking part in what is known as the 'skull breaker challenge'.
What are schools and parents do to ensure youngsters stay away from these bizarre and dangerous challenges?
Thakur Mulchandani, Principal Sunrise English Private School in Abu Dhabi said the safety of students is the school's top priority.
"We have developed a policy that monitors closely what students view online during school hours. Our teachers and safety officials speak to students not to engage in any dangerous online challenges or bizarre games," he said.
"At our school, we are always keen on what students do online and what games or activities they are involved in. Good enough we haven't encountered incidents of pupils engaged in dangerous challenges."
Mulchandani added: "The teachers keep children engaged in different activities at school and also give them homework so they don't get time for social media or online games.
"Our school has special sessions for parents where always speak to them about how best they can ensure the safety of their children while at him including having to monitor what the children do while online and to restrict them from accessing certain websites."
Yogita Bhagania, Vice Principal, Mayoor Private School, in Abu Dhabi said their school is so vigilant and that wherever a dangerous challenge goes viral, they immediately assemble the students and warn them about the dangers involved so they don't attempt to engage in the bizarre acts.
"We have safety awareness sessions for every class. We use the Google classroom to monitor the students' emails and all other online activities," said Bhagania adding that the system alerts the IT team if a child visits bad and dangerous sites.
Pakistani expat Tariq Mohammed, 50, said parents need to communicate with their kids on the dangers of social media challenges.
"The best way to communicate effectively with our kids is to first make them your friends," said Mohammed.
"My teenage son is my best friend. I always advise him on the dos and don'ts while online or not to involve himself in dangerous acts in a friendly manner. There is nothing he can do without seeking my guidance. Whatever he sees on social media, he shares it with me and ask me if it is right and safe."
Egyptian father, Mahd Raheem, says he always limits time his two teenage boys spend on social media.
"We are in a tech era and you can't prevent children from owning smartphones. But it is good thing to limit their time on social media by engaging them in other activities like sport while they are not at school," said Raheem.
"Parents should also guide their children well about the online sites they visit to ensure they view only safe and good content."
ismail@khaleejtimes.com