Abu Dhabi

Source: Alittihad Newspaper

Mufakiru Alemarat

Dr. Ali Mohamed Al Khouri

In the last two decades, the world has been swept by a digital revolution that has reshaped human, economic, and cultural relations, and established a new model of digital economy and profound social transformations. This revolution was not just a series of technical innovations or technological developments isolated from human and social contexts, but rather a comprehensive qualitative transformation that affected all aspects of life. In the “global homeland,” where youth aspirations for modernization and change prevail, this digital revolution has created promising opportunities for growth and innovation, but at the same time it has created unprecedented challenges for societies and governments, specifically centered around issues of cultural identity, digital privacy, and social cohesion.

Cultural Identity
According to the literature of the humanities and social sciences, cultural identity is not a static concept, but rather a dynamic construct that is affected by social, economic and technological conditions. With the rapid spread of the Internet and social media in Arab countries, young people have been given opportunities to open up to world cultures. However, this openness – despite its positives – has raised profound questions about the extent to which this digital revolution has affected local values.
Recent studies – conducted in some Arab countries – show a direct and intertwined relationship between the expansion of the user base of digital platforms, the weakness of young people’s attachment to traditional cultural values, and their increasing adoption of new concepts from outside the local scope that do not necessarily conform to the cultural roots of societies.
In addition to this, there is the widespread and systematic use of algorithms that deliberately provide content designed to influence individuals’ behavior, and the establishment of so-called “filter bubbles”, a phenomenon produced by digital algorithms that display content consistent with individuals’ interests and behavior on the Internet. This phenomenon reduces individuals’ exposure to other points of view, leads to intellectual isolation, and reinforces one-sided perceptions of various issues.

Digital Privacy
Personal privacy is another complex and controversial issue where individuals’ desire to protect their data collides with technology companies’ drive to breach invisible borders. Data has become the new most valuable commodity, with increasing practices of collecting and analyzing user data for economic gain. The goals of these practices are not limited to targeted advertising only, but also extend to influencing individuals’ choices, behavior, and even their values.
In the Arab context, with the absence of strict data protection legislation and the lack of enforcement mechanisms in light of the expansion of international platforms in local markets, fears are growing that this data could be exploited to influence individuals’ private lifestyles and choices, which could deepen the cultural and social crisis. In other words, if the importance of establishing clear national laws that protect digital privacy and impose transparency on technology companies continues to be ignored, Arab societies will remain vulnerable to dangerous repercussions that threaten their privacy and cultural identity.

social cohesion

The social impacts of digital technology also include a decline in direct human interaction, which is a key element in building social cohesion. Psychological studies indicate that direct interaction is a key factor in building trust and effective communication between individuals, while digital interaction tends to create superficial relationships devoid of human depth. With the majority of daily interactions moving to virtual digital platforms, there is a growing segment of individuals who suffer from feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, psychological detachment, and the decline of social ties.
Rates of depression and anxiety among Arab youth are on the rise, as statistics and studies conducted in Arab countries indicate that an increasing number of young people are now suffering from high levels of anxiety due to excessive use of social media. This psychological detachment not only threatens the mental health of individuals, but also affects the stability and cohesion of societies.

Recommendations for Policy Makers

It is clear that accommodating the challenges arising from the digital revolution requires building a strategic framework that views technology not only as a tool for economic growth, but also as a means for comprehensive development in its various social, economic and cultural dimensions. This framework must be based on achieving a balance between these dimensions and confronting the phenomenon of intellectual polarization, which seeks to isolate members of society from their shared identity and values, weaken the sense of belonging, and affect the stability of societies. The following axes illustrate the general trends that can be taken into account within this framework.

National legislation and policies

The most important thing that policymakers in the Arab world need is to design national legislation that takes into account the various dimensions, especially those related to protecting digital privacy, and ensuring that data is not exploited for commercial or political purposes without the clear and explicit consent of users. It is essential that this be accompanied by the establishment of independent oversight bodies to ensure compliance with these legislations. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) model is an important reference that can be used in drafting local national and Arab laws. In addition, the existence of a unified government platform that allows citizens to control their data and review how it is used is worthy of study and implementation, similar to current global practices, to raise the level of transparency and trust between individuals and institutions.

Digital content
is on a parallel track, so it is important to invest in developing national digital platforms that provide quality content, and encourage the production of purposeful and inspiring content that raises awareness of community issues, and reflects cultural identity and local values. This support can be represented in establishing funding funds to support investment in youth projects, and providing incubators and incentives to engage youth in producing content that highlights moral and cultural values, and moving away from the prevailing patterns on social media platforms, which often lack depth and contribute to distorting public thought and taste.

Digital Education
Reducing the phenomenon of digital isolation requires developing educational curricula and introducing the subject of “digital education,” which are two strategic requirements to raise young people’s awareness of the importance of balancing the digital and real worlds. Curricula should be based on the concept of “responsible use of technology,” and address issues of time management, privacy, and cybersecurity, as well as developing critical thinking skills to distinguish content and avoid being confined to limited informational or intellectual circles that may lead to cognitive biases. It is also necessary to support direct and realistic interactive programs and activities that reduce total dependence on technology, such as arts, sports, and volunteer activities.

Civil Society
Government institutions and civil society must play an active role in engaging community members, whether through local events or volunteer work, which contribute to building social ties based on cooperation and community service. This is because the nature of current events often lacks depth of content and is characterized by weak influence on patterns of thinking and behavior that drive individuals to interact positively with their surroundings. What is required here is to engage broader segments of society and focus on creating interactive spaces to enable individuals to cooperate and participate actively collectively, within a framework that preserves cultural heritage and shared values.

The family
remains essential in building society and its cohesion, and maintaining social ties and the psychological health of individuals, given that it is the first institution that shapes individual awareness and instills values ​​and behaviors. This role goes beyond the framework of guidance and monitoring, and extends to involving the family as an active party in the efforts to build a balanced society that enhances human values ​​and establishes the concept of responsible use of technology. Therefore, the state’s role begins with educating parents, conveying this important message to them, and enabling them to achieve this role in all ways and means, ranging from technological tools and educational curricula, in addition to moving parents to a stage of early maturity that enables them to manage family affairs wisely.

Integration of solutions
Finally, facing the challenges of the digital revolution requires a comprehensive approach that redefines the relationship between citizens and technology, so that national policies are based on achieving a balance between openness, technological development, and preserving cultural identity and ethical values. Among the recommendations proposed here is the establishment of a cohesive structure whose pillars are interconnected and complementary, ensuring tangible and sustainable results and establishing the concept of positive digital citizenship.