Keeping Safe Online: Perceptions of Gulf Adolescents

Abstract

With an increasing number of young people across the Gulf States now having access to the internet, the online safety of these adolescents is of concern. In a survey of 115 adolescents from the Gulf States, it was found that, although there are many benefits to young people, the risks of online usage are not fully understood by teenagers or their parents. Perceptions of ways to keep safe online may be articulated, but the online behaviour of many youngsters seems to be at variance with their responses. The more sophisticated UK youngsters differ somewhat in their usage and this may be a path that Gulf adolescents take in future, therefore lessons may be learnt from the UK and other countries with longer online experiences.