Senior U Figures Debate Impact of Social Media at...

Effects on family life and national identity considered by key media and government personnel

The impact of social media was debated at the fifth session of the Ramadan Majlis, organised by Sharjah Media Centre (SMC) on Wednesday at Al Majaz Amphitheatre. The session, Social Networking Sites, highlighted the characteristics and risks of these sites from a psychological and religious perspective, as well as their effects on the family unit and national values.

Held in the presence of Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of SMC, the evening featured Sheikh Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Nuaimi, Environmental Advisor and CEO of Al Ihsan Charity Association, also known as the Green Sheikh, and Sheikh Wassim Youssef, lecturer of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The session was moderated by Kuwaiti TV host Dr Barakat Al Waqyan.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi thanked the participants and said: This session will chart a road map to deal with these sites and the information posted on them, which could be untrue, or spark controversy.

Sheikh Dr Abdul Aziz Al Nuaimi said: There are two sides of social media; good and bad, beneficial and harmful, depending on the person using them. Social media have had a major impact on married couples, as some husbands spend so much time on them, whether posting material, broadcasting, tweeting, or commenting, effectively ignoring their wives and children. So, these husbands are busy socialising with others, rather than their wives, who become like widows when it comes to real socialising.

Sheikh Al Nuaimi underlined the important role of the family in educating their children on the positive and negative aspects of social networking sites, all while encouraging them to take advantage of the digital age in education, training, volunteerism and entertainment.

We need to have Emirati and Arab role models who are known for their vision, patriotism and national loyalty to discuss important issues, such as innovation, education and social service, which help advance the country, through social networking sites. Parents and teachers need to educate their children and raise their awareness about these sites, said Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Nuaimi.

Sheikh Al Nuaimi advised social media users to abide by ethical standards when using these sites, which, according to him, are honestly and credibly transferring information, and to overlook fabricated conflicts and nonsense debates that take place on the pages of social networks.

Sheikh Wassim Youssef said these sites have helped people develop their thoughts by exposing them to other people's thoughts and ideologies, whether moderate, neutral, or extreme. He, however, noted that social media have also been used to dominate and impose one's opinion over others'.

He said: This generation needs to be re-raised to learn how to respect others. We now see some people who classify others according to their dress by saying this person belongs to this or that sect because he wears a particular outfit.

Sheikh Wassim Youssef added: If Twitter was a man, he would triumph over us with his opinions because he tells us what is good and what is bad, but at the same time, social networking sites carry information that lacks credibility, which allows some to belittle or slander religious and national principles.

Speaking about the positive aspects of social networking sites, Sheikh Wassim Youssef suggested that social media have made people think more for themselves and not be so easily led and have enabled them to make use of a great deal of knowledge and scientific information.

He said: We reject new things without trying them, and consider everything coming from the West as a kind of invasion. Many people look at things from the negative side instead of the positive one. It is true that the breadth of social networking has dispersed censorship, just as it has contributed to an increase in interaction and exchange of views, expanding the mind, which is a positive thing.

Sheikh Wassim Youssef called on traditional media to expand the scope of their discussion to raise young people's awareness of misleading groups to ensure that community members maintain the security of their country.

The Ramadan Majlis will conclude on Monday, July 6, with a session titled Discussions on the Ramadan Cartoon Series, which will discuss the beginnings of the cartoon series, the mechanisms for selecting cartoon characters, and other important topics. Participants include Emirati director Mohammed Saeed Hareb, Emirati artist and director Abdullah Al Sharhan, Kuwaiti actress Intisar Sharah, and Emirati actress Ruzayqa Tarish. It will be sponsored by FUNN Foundation and Bidaya Media, and moderated by Abdullah Ismail.

LINK:	http://www.sharjahmedia.ae/en/media-centre/news/2/7/2015/senior-uae-fi...
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