Vulgar TV channels 'spreading corruption among teenagers'

Dubai: The Dubai Police Chief has described interactive TV channels as "electronic pimps" for spreading corruptive ideas among teenagers.

"I will personally contact Arab media ministers and send them letters telling them that we are monitoring such vulgar channels," said Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, who is also Chairman of Juvenile Welfare Association.

The TV channels provide text messaging services and lure boys and girls to meet each other through the messages. The police chief was speaking during the launch of the awareness campaign on Thursday against interactive TV channels, under the title 'Negative Media threaten National Security'.

He said such media is destructive and should be stopped.

"I could reveal things that will shock everyone. I am not just talking about the UAE, but also other Arab countries which are struggling to stop this corruption," he said.

The police chief warned that if they are not stopped, "every house will lose a son, every mother will lose a daughter, and every house will lose stability. Media ministers and Arab rulers must take up the issue of interactive TV channels."

Destruction

He said there is a "psychological error" in the minds of the group of people who run such channels, as they do not mind spreading corruption in the society with the aim of destroying it. He said anyone who sells his beliefs, religion, reputation, family and himself, finds it easy to sell his country.

Dr Mohammad Murad, director of the association, said it had conducted a study of 600 male and female students in Dubai at different levels on interactive TV channels.

According to the findings, 74 per cent of them did not know what an interactive TV channel is, they watched TV five hours during holidays and two and half hours during weekdays.

"The study also revealed that there is one TV set for every two people in one family and the average of TV sets in one house is three and a half, which indicates that youngsters watch TV channels away from family monitoring," he said.

Campaign

Dr Murad said, according to the study, young girls between the ages of 14 and 16 are more interested in sending SMS through these channels and a large percentage of them want to use it to meet males.

The campaign will kick off on April 2 at Zayed University, and will continue for two weeks.

Campaign activities include lectures in schools, radio stations, mosques and a students rally at Al Mamzar Beach.

I request Etisalat to block those numbers that provide text messaging on TV channels. Police should also crack down on outlets/ vendors distributing smart cards for X-rated channels.
Khalid
Karachi,Pakistan

I strongly agree with the opinion of Dr. Murad. Sending SMS through interactive TV channels should be controlled by law.
J. Pereira
Dubai,UAE

It is a good move by the Dubai police to stop the spread of vulgarity in the Arab world! The police should be given more powers to eradicate vulgarity on the roads, shopping malls, beaches, hotels etc. The residents and foreign tourists should be advised to dress decently.
Habeeb
Bangalore,India

The government should take strict action against this nonsense.
N. Butt
Dubai,UAE

This is a good move. Someone has realised what the teenagers are going toward...
F. Yaqoob
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE

Even if we stop the TV chanels, the young generation will access the same things from other sources. Noone can stop them. The best way is to launch a campaign in all schools.
Vijay
Dubai,UAE

It's about time. Unfortunately, Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim is the only one complaining about it. Most of these channels are based out of the Media City. Their primary source of income is not ads, but text message revenue.
A. K.
Muscat,Oman

Some media will go to any extend to sell their news and corrupt children in the name of providing vital info on movies, musicals and so-called idols, who dress in a vulgar way.
Zeeshan
Sharjah,UAE