The dangers of digital

Digital devices are booming in popularity in Qatar, but as Thomson Foundation public relations trainer Richard Peel writes, their impact on family life is coming under scrutiny.

Twenty first century households are abuzz with laptops, iPads and iPhones, but the preoccupation with all these gadgets is not good for family relationships, as is clear from the growing divorce rates in Qatar.

One of the many interesting stories that emerged from the course I was delivering for Al Jazeera on the role of a press officer and how to be an official spokesperson was the increasing concern in Doha about families breaking down because of a lack of communal conversation.

Although no figures had been confirmed, statistics suggesting a 50 per cent rise in divorce were being circulated. This was, inevitably, being hotly denied by official sources but there is a broad acknowledgement of a growing problem.

Solitary key bashing

With the husband and wife both out of the house all day and resuming their solitary key bashing and surfing on home computers and tablets on their return, children are being ignored or are joining in the digital party with Playstations and Xboxes.

Qataris are now being offered advice on how to restore family conversations - a problem that is becoming a worldwide phenomenon, as technology becomes more and more sophisticated and accessible.

As we all know, its quite an achievement almost anywhere in the developed world now to sit round a dinner table without a member of the family tweeting or texting.

Another problem in the Middle East, shared by the west, is the growing number of mobile phones being used by drivers and leading to serious road accidents. A representative from the Oman police, who was on the course, organised by Al Jazeera, said it was one of the key causes of car smashes on their roads.

Digital progress But none of these things will, of course, stand in the way of digital progress. While I was in Doha, The Peninsula newspaper was reporting that a company called Ooredoo was launching 4G services in Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.

The story said that customers in Ooredoos footprint have been rapidly subscribing to 4G services driven by the popularity of more affordable smartphones and increasing need for mobile data . Consumers, it went on, have used 4G to stream HD video and music, browse multimedia-rich websites and update social media.

During the course, which was designed to give delegates a full comprehension of the role of a press officer and how to engage in media interviews as a credible spokesperson, we inevitably had discussions about how the role of a PR has changed in an environment where social media is starting play such an important role. These debates became more intense once the divorce stats emerged.

LINK:	http://www.thomsonfoundation.org/news-and-features/2013/06/20/the-dang...
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