Dubai: The Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) has directed social media users to use stronger passwords, read smartphone apps’ terms and conditions and remind children not to accept friend requests from strangers.
The authority also advised families on how to ensure their children’s safe activities on social networks and discouraged them from sharing their geographical location, personal information and photographs on devices connected to the internet to protect them from blackmail.
The advice was part of the authority’s participation in a seminar on cyber blackmail conducted with Al Ameen Programme at the Al Rashidiya Majlis in collaboration with Dubai’s Community Development Authority.
The session aimed to raise parents’ awareness on the risks of blackmail posed to children by the unsafe use of the internet in general and social media in particular. Mothers were advised to use parental control applications and review games and applications before downloading them.
Mohammad Al Zarouni, TRA’s Director for Policies and Programmes, said: “Events such as these are in line with the authority’s social responsibility and related accredited programmes which aim to protect families and society as a whole from the risks of online attempts to fool users in general and children in particular. Through this workshop, we shall educate people on the proper use of the internet and smart applications.”
