Peer-reviewed article
Online Safety Challenges: Saudi Children and Parents’ Perspectives on Risks and Harms
Adil Al Ghamdi ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This exploratory qualitative study interviewed 15 Saudi children aged 12 to 15 and 10 parents about online risks, harms and safety practices. Participants saw clear benefits of the internet, such as education and socialising, but also worried about cyberbullying, aggression and exploitation. Children mostly responded to risks after they happened, for example by blocking or deleting content, and parents said they struggled to monitor what their children did online. The authors argue that the lack of systematic online safety education in Saudi schools and homes is a major cause of these problems.
Key points
- Four themes emerged: the promise and peril of the internet, living with the shadows of the online world, psychological and physical health consequences, and navigating safety amid uncertainty.
- Children and parents shared worries about cyberbullying, aggression and exploitation.
- Internet addiction and isolation were reported as consequences, along with vision impairment and obesity.
- Children's online safety practices were reactive, such as blocking and deleting risky content or behaviour.
- Parents reported struggling to monitor children online, and both groups had limited awareness of online risks.
Limitations
The sample is small (15 children and 10 parents) and based on interviews, so the findings describe views and experiences and cannot show how common these problems are across Saudi Arabia. The abstract does not report how participants were recruited or whether results differ by gender or region.
Abstract
Research in western countries concludes that children and adolescents are exposed to multiple forms of online risks and harms. However, in the context of Saudi Arabia, research in online safety education is lagging. Currently, online safety education is generic and not research informed. Hence, this exploratory study seeks to generate a qualitative understanding of online risks and harms experienced by Saudi children, adolescents, and parents as well as online safety strategies. Using a semi-structured interview, this study explores the views of 15 children (12–15 years) and 10 parents. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) yielded four key themes: Negotiating the Promise and Peril of the internet, Living with the Shadows of the Online World, Psychological, and Physical Health Consequences, and Navigating Safety in a Digital Landscape of Uncertainty. While the benefits are clear (e.g., education and socialisation), children and parents have shared worries about cyberbullying, aggression, and exploitation. Internet addiction and isolation are notable consequences along with vision impairment and obesity. Children’s online safety practices are reactive, e.g., blocking and deleting risky content/behaviour, while parents share their struggles in monitoring children online. Online safety education, or the lack of it, is to blame. Children’s and parents’ limited awareness of online risks and poor online safety practices need to improve in Saudi Schools and households; there is an urgent need for further research and adequate implementation of systematic online safety education.