Schools face call to teach pupils about social media amid concerns for users

Schools should embrace social media and discuss it in lessons to ensure young people use platforms safely, a professor at Abu Dhabi University told The National.

Social media use has been linked to a decline in mental health, with the Arab Youth Survey 2023 finding that 60 per cent of young Arabs thought it had a harmful effect on their mental well-being.

But Prof Brilliant Mhlanga said we “cannot reject” social media, despite these issues.

“Every generation is defined by its history of tools and technologies,” said Prof Mhlanga, who has written extensively on digital and social media.

“Social media should be considered as the technology and a tool of the time. We cannot reject, but embrace it.”

He said schools and governments needed to work with social media organisations to “infuse” platforms “into schools and universities as learning devices so they can be embraced as part and parcel of our culture”.

Prof Mhlanga was speaking after New York Mayor Eric Adams suggested last month that social media was as harmful to society as smoking in public.

He declared it a public health hazard because platforms including TikTok, YouTube and Facebook were fuelling a mental health crisis, The Washington Post reported.

He said social media would be treated like other public health hazards, including tobacco and guns.

Lynn Sutton, TikTok’s head of outreach and partnerships, trust and safety for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, was at the platform’s Menat Youth Mental Health Summit in Dubai yesterday.

TikTok has protections in place for users, she said.

“Our community guidelines are designed to ensure the platform remains a positive and inclusive space for everyone. We take action to address potential challenges,” Ms Sutton said.

But she also urged people to avoid becoming hooked to social media.

“We want TikTok to be a part of people’s life, but it shouldn’t be all of your life,” she said.

Lee Hole, head teacher at Dubai British School Jumeira, said schools should not be held solely responsible for educating children about social media, but emphasised the importance of teaching critical thinking. The issue is complex and cannot be solved simply by adding social media to the curriculum, he said.

“We have a shared responsibility as schools, as families, as society in general, to raise awareness,” Mr Hole said.

“I don’t disagree with the fact social media is something young people need to have a better awareness of.

“I think these social media platforms have a responsibility and I would say that some of these platforms can be doing more.”

A head teacher in Dubai says schools should not be solely responsible for educating children about social media