Recent data shows that the world's internet use has gone up – reversing from a downward trend in previous years. People are back on their screens, but what does this mean for our well-being?
A typical internet user spends six hours and 40 minutes online per day, according to global audience research company GWI. This is up almost one per cent year-on-year. The numbers are even higher in the UAE, with average time spent online at eight hours and 11 minutes per day. Since the UAE's median age is 33.6 – which is fairly young compared to other countries – people naturally cling to their gadgets for everything, from work to entertainment.
While screens have become a big part of people's personal and professional lives, there is still growing concern about how they negatively affect our health, and at times, relationships.
Screen versus quality time
One of the most obvious impacts of excessive screen time is how it can interrupt quality time spent, but it also has many physical health issues associated with it.
“Excessive screen time has been linked to a range of health issues, including obesity, sleep disturbances and mental health problems,” says Christian Kiefer, chief executive and founder of Rayya Wellness.
On a recent family holiday to Thailand during the Eid break, which he describes as “refreshing and eye-opening”, Kiefer took the chance to embark on a digital detox. “It allowed me to disconnect from the constant demands of work and technology and truly immerse myself in quality time with my daughter.”
He adds that it's important for him to “lead by example”, especially as a parent. “By cutting down on my own screen time and prioritising meaningful interactions with my family, I'm not only setting a positive example for my daughter but also promoting a healthier lifestyle within our household,” he explains.
The same is true for Abu Dhabi resident Asha Sherwood, who spends an average of six to 11 hours glued to her mobile phone, mainly due to work. “I'm bothered by my screen time more because of the impression it leaves on my daughter,” she says. “Because the phone can be a quick way to communicate, and people send messages at all times of the day, it intrudes on family time and takes my focus away from her.”
Sherwood, who works in media, says she doesn't want her daughter to think that “being on the phone all the time is the norm and that she needs to rely on it for communication or for stimulation".
Tazeen Jafri, who lives in Sharjah, is also concerned about how her daughter, two, turns into a “completely different person” when exposed to mobile phones or television. “I used to let her watch nursery rhymes on TV and sometimes on the phone to make the long drives easier, for example. I thought it's an educational tool, but then I saw the tantrums and the frustration,” she tells The National.
“She wouldn't want to listen and I thought 'my obedient and generally pleasant child looks like she's having a withdrawal." Now, she has now completely removed screens from her daughter's daily routine. “It's been a rough battle keeping her occupied," she adds.
Growing up with siblings, Jafri engaged in a lot of physical activity. She says it's also a generational issue, with many children now having access to mobile phones at a young age and being exposed to more technology.
“I had a fixed outdoor playtime when I was young, but now, no one plays outside any more. I try to make sure my daughter has this time, too. I allow her to go outside for 30 minutes, which we have been doing since she was six months old. Now, she rides her bicycle and throws her ball around.”
Tips for keeping screen time down
As ubiquitous as screens are, there are ways to ensure they are not used excessively, and setting boundaries is essential. “Designating specific times when screens are off-limits and prioritising alternative activities such as outdoor adventures or hobbies can help break the cycle of screen dependency,” Kiefer says.
There are screen time tracking applications that people can use to better monitor daily use. For parents, Kiefer believes in leading by example. “Modelling healthy screen habits and establishing clear rules around screen time can help instil good habits in children from a young age,” he says.
“Additionally, utilising parental control features and fostering open communication about the importance of balanced screen time can empower parents to guide their children towards healthier tech habits.” Creating tech-free zones within the home could also be an option, adds Kiefer. “Prioritising quality time spent with loved ones over digital distractions strengthens family bonds and fosters meaningful connections.”
For Dubai resident Stephen King, getting a basic Nokia 3310 mobile phone has allowed him to become more productive and less distracted by smartphone notifications. While he owns two other mobile phones, one for work and one for entertainment, King has created distinct boundaries in his device usage. He keeps his work phone in a bag with a laptop, while his other phone “always stays at home”.
“The problematic use of internet and mobile phones could be akin to addiction,” he adds. “I wanted a real break, so I cut the cord literally.”
This absolutist approach might not work for everyone, though. Smita Malwe, who lives in Dubai, says she prefers just being more conscious and self-aware. "While I can't avoid work-related screen time, I try to take a few minutes' breaks every hour to give my eyes some rest. Additionally, I am working on reducing my personal phone and TV usage, especially trying not to binge-watch on weekends,” she says.
Malwe has also turned off notifications for most of the applications on her phone to avoid getting too distracted. “It has not been an easy journey, but I am determined to break this habit and reclaim my time.”
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Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
THE SPECS
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Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
more from Janine di Giovanni
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
The specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T
Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000
Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic
Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.9L / 100km; 11.6L / 100km
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
More on Quran memorisation:
Cracks in the Wall
Ben White, Pluto Press
