Muscat – A social media survey conducted by National Centre for Statistics and Information, in collaboration with Ministry of Information, shows that an overwhelming 78% children under 18 in Oman regularly use social media applications.

This widespread use is driven by the increasing availability of smartphones and Internet connectivity across the sultanate. YouTube is the most popular platform, used by 82% children, followed by WhatsApp (47%) and Instagram (31%).

The proliferation of social media has significantly impacted daily lives of Omani youth, according to the survey conducted over two periods – December 5-29, 2023 and February 4-20, 2024.

While 50% of children use social media for educational purposes, such as completing school assignments and engaging in learning activities, the platforms also serve as primary sources of entertainment. About 37% children follow children’s programmes on social media, and 33% use it to stay connected with friends and family.

Despite the benefits, significant parental concerns exist. Approximately 52% parents believe that social media negatively impacts their children. Issues such as exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying and potential addiction are among the top concerns. The survey found 81% parents actively monitor their children’s social media usage to mitigate these risks.

Physical exhaustion and health problems due to prolonged screen time were reported by 3% respondents.

Females are more active on social media compared to males, with 88% female respondents using social media applications daily, compared to 77.3% males.

Regionally, the highest usage was recorded in Muscat, followed by Dhofar and Dakhliyah.

Additionally, the survey showed that 22.2% of Omanis use the X platform daily, with an additional 17.6% using it once or twice a week. On average, Omanis spend about two hours and five minutes daily on X, with notable differences observed across gender, age group and educational level.

Furthermore, 59.9% of Omanis use Instagram daily, averaging three hours per day, while 36% engage with YouTube for an average of two hours daily, and 41.2% use Snapchat daily for approximately two hours and 45 minutes.