Muscat – With 78.12% of Omani children using social media and 96% of Omanis having accessed at least one platform in the past three months, concerns are growing over the impact of digital platforms on society.

To address these challenges, the Ministry of Information, in collaboration with the Oman 2040 Vision Implementation Follow-up Unit, held a workshop on Sunday to focus on a roadmap ‘Towards a National Framework for Dealing with Social Media’.

H E Mohammed bin Saeed al Balushi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information, stressed the need for a clear national strategy to manage the effects of social media, particularly on youth.

“This initiative seeks to preserve family cohesion, promote responsible upbringing of children, and confront the global challenges posed by social media. The goal is to establish clear mechanisms to manage this widespread phenomenon.”

H E Balushi highlighted the influence of social media in modern life. “With instant access to global networks, social media has reshaped how we communicate and interact. However, its rapid growth also presents risks, including isolation, rising mental health issues like depression and anxiety, and smartphone addiction.”

H E Balushi noted that ethical concerns such as cyberbullying, harassment, misinformation, and the spread of rumours further threaten societal values and safety.

“Developing a national framework is essential for the protection of youth and future generations,” he added.

Dr Amal bint Mohammed al Nofli, Director General of Electronic Media and Head of the Working Group, explained that a team has been formed to assess the current social media landscape, identify challenges, and turn them into opportunities.

“The group aims to balance the negative and positive aspects of social media while educating families and youth on best practices.” She added that the team would develop initiatives to promote responsible social media engagement.

Al Azhar bin Hassan al Shaqsi from the Government Communication Center shared key statistics on social media usage in Oman. He revealed that WhatsApp is the most widely used platform, with 99.10% of the population on it. While 53.11% of Omanis reported a positive impact from social media, 10% noted negative effects.

The workshop also explored ways to raise awareness among families and youth on responsible social media use. Key strategies discussed included launching awareness campaigns, combating digital illiteracy, promoting digital citizenship, and incorporating digital ethics and media education into school curricula to encourage safe online behaviour.