DUBAI // The continuing rise of social media offers good opportunities for better policymaking, but privacy concerns and misuse of data still pose a challenge to governments and businesses, a recent study suggests.
Almost 40 per cent of people in the Arab region are social media users. For the UAE, the figure is far greater and experts say the growing number of users can help to shape public opinion and government policy.
Twitter, Facebook and other platforms allow for greater interaction between governments and its citizens.
Fadi Salem, a research fellow at Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government and the author of the 7th Arab Social Media Report, said there was growing use of social media in the 22 Arab countries that were covered.
“In this report, we try to focus on policymaking and how social media, in addition to other data sources , is enabling better policymaking,” Mr Salem said.
“Facebook, for example, has 156 million users as of January this year, up from 115 million users two years ago.”
The report said 39 per cent of people in the region were social media users, up from 28 per cent in 2015.
It also highlighted an increase in the number of Twitter and LinkedIn users. As of last month, there were 11 million active Twitter users and 16.6 million on LinkedIn users.
For Instagram, which was included for the first time in the report, there were 7.1 million active users in the Arab world.
Despite its popularity, “the value of social media in public policy in the region has limitations ranging from concerns about privacy, to loss of control, misrepresentation and misuse of data”, said Mr Salem.
The study found 15 per cent of people said they provided false information on social media, while 44 per cent said that they either closed or abandoned at least one social media account last year.
Forty-six per cent said they had more than one account on at least one social media platform, leading to fears that accounts were being used maliciously.
In the survey, which was conducted online with 19,000 internet users, 58 per cent said that they expressed their views on government policies or services on social media.
Upon further analysis, only 29 per cent said they openly expressed their opinions directly on social media, while 24 per cent of respondents said that they censored their comments.
“Governments around the world are proactively experimenting with social media data and interacting with social media users in a variety of ways,” Mr Salem said in the report.
“The spectrum of uses varied from benign and positive uses, to manipulative and aggressive ones.
“For example, some governments may rely on social media data for trend and sentiment analysis, feeding into policymaking with the objective of aligning policy development with public needs, concerns and preferences.
“Others capture and store massive amounts of activity and personal data on social media users for profiling and behaviour analysis.”
When respondents were asked whether they would support the use of their personal social media data by governments if it led to better policies, 34.7 per cent said they would but they still had concerns. Another 34.2 per cent said they strongly supported it without concerns.
Eighteen per cent said they were neutral, 7.5 per cent rejected it but saw some value, and 5.6 per cent strongly rejected it.
Another challenge to social media’s use as a policy-shaper is the gender gap.
“There is currently one woman for every two men in the region, which remains a persistent challenge,” said Mr Salem.
The report warned that this lack of adequate female participation may have a negative impact on ensuring inclusive development and policy design.
Mr Salem said that GCC countries continued to dominate the top ranks on most social media platforms in terms of penetration.
Qatar ranked first with 85 per cent, followed by the UAE with 81.1 per cent.
The UAE was the highest-ranking country for penetration with LinkedIn and Instagram, at 32.5 and 12 per cent. For Twitter, the UAE ranked fourth with 8.7 per cent penetration.
The full report, produced by the Innovation and Future Government Group, which is part of the MBR School of Government, can be found on mbrsg.ac.ae and arabsocialmediareport.com.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
ASIAN%20RUGBY%20CHAMPIONSHIP%202024
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EResults%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EHong%20Kong%2052-5%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESouth%20Korea%2055-5%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EMalaysia%206-70%20Hong%20Kong%3Cbr%3EUAE%2036-32%20South%20Korea%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFriday%2C%20June%2021%2C%207.30pm%20kick-off%3A%20UAE%20v%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EAt%20The%20Sevens%2C%20Dubai%20(admission%20is%20free).%3Cbr%3ESaturday%3A%20Hong%20Kong%20v%20South%20Korea%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
match info
Chelsea 2
Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')
Liverpool 0
RESULTS
Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO
Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke
Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke
Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO
Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision
Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision
Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO
Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)
Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)
Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision
Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke
Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO
Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision
Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Fixtures - Open Men 2pm: India v New Zealand, Malaysia v UAE, Singapore v South Africa, Sri Lanka v England; 8pm: Australia v Singapore, India v Sri Lanka, England v Malaysia, New Zealand v South Africa
Fixtures - Open Women Noon: New Zealand v England, UAE v Australia; 6pm: England v South Africa, New Zealand v Australia
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:
- Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
- Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
- Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
