A study of pupils at four UAE schools has found that certain categories of children are more likely to bully their peers online.
The work, which analysed the behaviour of ninth and tenth year pupils (14-to-16 years old) in Al Ain, found there were more instances of cyberbullying carried out by children who were looked after for long periods by nannies and domestic workers.
The Al Ain University researchers behind the study said it was clear that a lack of guidance could lead to bad behaviour.
When parents were absent for much of the day, particularly mothers, researchers said, behaviour appeared to deteriorate.
“Working mothers are under an enormous workload with long working hours,” they wrote.
Online behaviour of a very small minority of pupils has become a concern
“Additionally, domestic servants allow the children they supervise to use the technology for long periods of time, with the absence of real and direct supervision by the mothers.”
In another key conclusion, the researchers found there was more cyberbullying by children whose parents were not university graduates.
A third finding was that male pupils were more likely than females to carry out cyberbullying.
The study’s first author, Dr Khawlah Al Tkhayneh, an assistant professor in the College of Education at Al Ain University, said this detail reflected wider gender trends in society.
Online bullying is carried out through multiple channels, according to Dr Al Tkhayneh, including by text message and on Facebook or Twitter.
Fortunately, the overall level of cyberbullying was described as “low to medium” so, while distressing to those who fall victim, it was less prevalent than expected.
A recent poll conducted among Emirati university pupils for the Mohamed bin Zayed Majlis for Future Generations found that 11 per cent of those who said their mental health was poor or not good, blamed it on bullying.
Dr Al Tkhayneh said societal awareness of the problem had increased and “many governments” had implemented laws to deter cyberbullying.
She cited the UAE federal law from 2012, plus 2016 amendments, which covered cyber crimes, with punishments including imprisonment and fines.
There was a surge in online bullying around the globe during the pandemic.
According to the Cybersmile Foundation, an anti-bullying non-profit organisation, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner reported a 50 per cent increase in incidents of cyberbullying during the first three weeks of the country’s lockdown.
In January, the UAE launched a digital well-being policy to tackle online trolls.
The strategy included an online behaviour code to be taught to Emiratis in government schools from nursery to Grade 12.
Jeff Evans, managing director of Learning Key, an education consultancy in the UAE, said there was already a series of legal and regulatory measures in place that should give schools the power to tackle bullying robustly.
“The UAE introduced an excellent moral education to all Abu Dhabi schools in 2018, which includes pillars and values such as tolerance, respect and empathy,” he said.
“School leaders and teachers have worked steadily to integrate these into the curriculum and encourage pupils to fully reflect on their behaviour and attitudes.”
Mr Evans, who works with private schools offering American, British, IB and Indian curricula, said in recent years the “online behaviour of a very small minority of pupils has become a concern”.
“Despite most good schools providing online safety training and codes of conduct, which pupils and parents sign up to, a few children and teens can be tempted to behave online in a way they would never do face to face on campus. Bullying, name calling or spreading rumours are all hurtful,” he said.
The new study, published in Balkan Social Science Review, was based on questionnaires filled in by just under 250 pupils, 65 per cent of them Emirati.
Titled The degree of cyberbullying according to gender and social ecology in the UAE, it was also written by Dr Khaled Nser, an associate professor in Al Ain University's College of Education.
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Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
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Stuart Kells, Counterpoint Press
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Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
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The biog
Favourite book: You Are the Placebo – Making your mind matter, by Dr Joe Dispenza
Hobby: Running and watching Welsh rugby
Travel destination: Cyprus in the summer
Life goals: To be an aspirational and passionate University educator, enjoy life, be healthy and be the best dad possible.
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
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