Doha: Adolescents are using technology excessively, which is impacting their health, education and family relationships, according to a key report presented at the 2021 WISE Summit by Qatar Foundation’s Doha International Family Institute (DIFI).
The report provided the preliminary findings of a joint research project with DIFI, WISE, World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), all members of Qatar Foundation (QF), on “Technology Overuse Amongst Adolescents in Qatar”.
The investigation was initiated to determine the impact of excessive use of digital technologies on family cohesion and relationships, users’ health, and student learning. It aims to identify the factors that contribute to overuse of digital technologies among children and parents, and parental monitoring and mediation strategies, and propose relevant policies and programs that can effectively address the issue.
Preliminary findings show a direct relation between the parents’ Internet dependence to their children’s, and the need for effective strategies for managing online use and preventing the development of addiction. The research has found that the higher the Internet addiction score in parents, the higher it is in their children; Mothers tend to have more serious arguments with their children about tech usage than fathers; Coercive strategies to limit the Internet or technology use is associated with more serious arguments and more need for help than persuasive strategies.
The research also found that time on technology is a weak predictor of the children addiction score, and also that family income and size, and parents’ education have no significant effect on addiction score. Commenting on the research, Dr. Sharifa Noaman Al Emadi, Executive Director, DIFI, said: “We are pleased to collaborate with key QF organizations to find solutions to a growing global problem, and identify strategies to prevent it from escalating further and pinpoint solutions to end it.
“Based on this project’s results, we intend to propose evidence-based policies and programs to help families maximise what technology has to offer while protecting their relationships, health and wellbeing.”
Several areas were identified by the research where specific policies and programs may apply to help families properly manage Internet and technology use. They include, technological solutions: Parents need more sophisticated tools to help them manage technology use for themselves and their children, age-appropriateness: Parents need guidance to help them judge if content is age-appropriate, collective handling.
Also there is a need for a central intervention from telecommunication providers, schools and tech developers to help prevent addiction.
The report also suggest that parents need guides to help them engage in convincing dialogues with their children to deal with technology use issues.
A mixed-method approach was applied for the research, which includes qualitative in-depth interviews with Arab mothers and fathers, alongside a cross-sectional quantitative non-random survey with parents who have children aged 10-16 years residing in Qatar. The method also includes interviews with health providers and practitioners and an extensive appraisal with adolescents.
To complete the report, DIFI will examine the excessive use of technology by adolescents from the family perspective, WISH will look at its health implications while WISE will investigate the education aspect. The three organizations work with a consultant from HBKU who serves as a technology expert and advisor to the project. The report is expected to be finalized in September 2022.