AJMAN // Schools should teach pupils about the dangers of improper use of social media, education experts say.
As criminals, terrorist organisations and fake news sites use social media to prey on youngsters and spread propaganda, pupils should be taught how to spot the warning signs and stay safe online, said speakers at the Media Education Conference, organised by the Ministry of Education in Ajman on Wednesday.
“The availability of modern telecommunication devices allows people to receive lots of information and news that they share without verifying its credibility,” said Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, executive director of the National Electronic Security Authority.
“This resulted in an increase in cybercrimes and scams on social media. Police receive reports about cybercrimes on a daily basis.”
Dr Habib Al Sayegh, chairman of the UAE Writers Association, highlighted the importance of proper media education in helping to shape how pupils deal with the flow of information online.
“This conference will help develop an integrated education project and provide solutions to increase students’ knowledge about online information.”
Abdul Rahman Al Hammadi, under-secretary of the Ministry of Education for Control and Support Services, said schools and parents should work together to supervise the media children and adolescents are exposed to.
“Also they should raise our children’s awareness about the negative impacts of exposure to destructive ideas presented by terrorist groups,” he said.
Ali Al Hakami, president of Inma Education, said parents would also benefit from more knowledge about social media.
“Because it is natural for parents to help youngsters with their studies at home, this will strengthen their vision and awareness on the issue. Parents’ awareness of the negative impacts and terrorist ideologies will help to tackle children’s exposure to such information.
“The media is huge and it changes every second.”
nramahi@thenational.ae
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US households add $601bn of debt in 2019
American households borrowed another $601 billion (Dh2.2bn) in 2019, the largest yearly gain since 2007, just before the global financial crisis, according to February data from the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
Fuelled by rising mortgage debt as homebuyers continued to take advantage of low interest rates, the increase last year brought total household debt to a record high, surpassing the previous peak reached in 2008 just before the market crash, according to the report.
Following the 22nd straight quarter of growth, American household debt swelled to $14.15 trillion by the end of 2019, the New York Fed said in its quarterly report.
In the final three months of the year, new home loans jumped to their highest volume since the fourth quarter of 2005, while credit cards and auto loans also added to the increase.
The bad debt load is taking its toll on some households, and the New York Fed warned that more and more credit card borrowers — particularly young people — were falling behind on their payments.
"Younger borrowers, who are disproportionately likely to have credit cards and student loans as their primary form of debt, struggle more than others with on-time repayment," New York Fed researchers said.
Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
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