MENA's digital transformation must not ignore well-being
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To the casual observer, the digital transformation sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa region appears dazzling, changing the way people learn, work and connect. With some of the highest internet and smartphone penetration rates globally, the region's transformation is powered by ambitious national visions, youthful populations and robust telecommunications infrastructures. But amid this momentum, the notion of digital well-being is becoming vital to ensure progress does not come at the expense of quality of life.
The National University of Singapore has crystallized the concept of 'digital well-being' as the cultivation of a healthy, balanced and meaningful relationship with technology. This means being aware of both the benefits and the risks of online activities, understanding how digital engagement affects mental, emotional and social health, and learning how to manage the factors — such as screen time, online engagement and content exposure — that influence our overall digital experience.
Used wisely and responsibly, digital tools can help societies advance in many realms, such as expanding access to knowledge, boosting workplace productivity, promoting creative self-expression and engaging with communities of interest.
As governments and policymakers grapple with the implications of a hyperconnected world, initiatives like the Global Digital Wellbeing Index — launched by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture — offer vital insights into how digital technologies affect people's well-being worldwide.
This index, the first global benchmark of its kind, draws on 35,000 interviews across 35 countries and 12 pillars, including social cohesion, physical and mental health, the ability to disconnect, information quality, entertainment and culture, and access to services and goods. It aims to capture how equipped countries are to reap digital opportunities while shielding their citizens from risks.
While digital technologies have brought undeniable convenience, connectivity and productivity to modern life, their impacts on physical and mental well-being are hard to ignore. Last year, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development published a report titled 'The Impact of Digital Technologies on Well-Being,' in which it highlighted the growing links between digital tools and well-being. For instance, the report emphasized the growing mental health risks associated with frequent digital technology use, such as anxiety, depression, loneliness and stress. Physically, the extended use of digital technologies has been linked to obesity, poor posture, poor sleep quality, neck and eye strain, and other musculoskeletal issues — primarily due to sedentary behavior and excessive screen time.
It is imperative to counter the ever-growing risks of harmful content and misinformation that circulate on digital platforms.
Sara Al-Mulla
And yet, digital transformation could be a game-changer for the MENA region, unlocking enormous economic and social gains. According to a report published by the World Bank, if digital transformation is leveraged in a competitive manner, the region has the potential to increase gross domestic product per capita by more than 40 percent. Employment in manufacturing could also rise by 7 percent, while tourist arrivals may see a 70 percent jump. Even more promising, digitalization could alleviate long-term unemployment, bringing it to near-zero, while doubling women's participation in the workforce to more than 40 percent.
Many countries are already leading the way. Launched in 2021, the UAE's National Policy for Digital Wellbeing was introduced with the aim of fostering safe, purposeful and positive digital communities. Another example is Saudi Arabia's signature Sync initiative, which was launched as part of the country's growing focus on digital well-being. This awareness and preventive program focuses on encouraging healthier tech habits in order to curb the rising toll of screen overuse on society.
France offers a compelling case study, as it issued a law in 2017 enshrining the 'right to disconnect,' meaning employees are not obliged to answer work-related calls or emails outside their working hours. Meanwhile, Singapore and the UK have embedded digital mental health frameworks into school curricula. And Australia made global headlines last year by becoming the first country to pass a law banning children under 16 from accessing social media platforms.
To enhance digital well-being in the MENA region, several potential policy and legislative interventions warrant greater attention. Governments should develop evidence-based digital well-being frameworks based on key components that collectively contribute to well-being. Engaging academia would be advantageous in order to examine the impacts of digital technologies on mental and physical health in the region, paving the way for tailored policies, legislation and health services.
Education is a logical starting point and schools can embed well-being principles into curricula to empower students to upskill and use digital technologies mindfully, thereby minimizing the detrimental effects on their physical and mental health. For instance, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health tackles this issue on its official website, offering screen time recommendations for children up to 18 years old, in line with guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Governments could also support workshops, community programs and mental health counseling to counter rising incidents of cyberbullying, anxiety, depression and social isolation. At the same time, parents and teachers must be empowered through awareness programs, such as utilizing parental control tools on popular apps.
Creating safe digital spaces, particularly for vulnerable groups, calls for strong data protection measures and bold anti-cyberbullying policies. Age-appropriate regulations that protect children online are key and considering capping the time they spend on social media could be worthwhile. Additionally, it is imperative to counter the ever-growing risks of harmful content and misinformation that circulate on digital platforms, such as misleading health information.
Connectivity and universal access should remain a priority, particularly with digital economic empowerment being a high priority for MENA governments. This entails investing in strong telecommunications infrastructures and deploying upskilling programs to pave the way for workforces to adopt future-ready jobs. In the workplace, digital nomad visas and flexible work policies should be promoted, with legal protections supporting the right to disconnect from work.
The MENA region has the opportunity to carve out a path toward a healthier, more mindful digital society.
• Sara Al-Mulla is an Emirati civil servant with an interest in human development policy and children's literature. She can be contacted at www.amorelicious.com.
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