Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman has taken a major step in addressing social media’s impact on society with the launch of a development workshop titled "Towards a National Framework for Social Media Management." Organised by the Ministry of Information (MoL) in collaboration with the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, the workshop aims to reduce digital risks, and enhance community awareness on responsible usage.
Key findings from a national study on social media usage, presented during the workshop, revealed that 78.12% of Omani children use social media applications, while 96% of Omanis accessed at least one platform in the past three months. WhatsApp was the most widely used application, with 99.10%.
Despite its advantages, social media has raised concerns, with 10% of users citing negative effects.
Mohammed Said al Balushi, Undersecretary of MoL, said that His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has directed efforts to address the adverse effects of social media on youth.
“This initiative reflects the urgent need to protect families and ensure that social media usage aligns with national values and ethical standards,” he stated.
He also highlighted the necessity of a structured national approach to face potential harms while availing the benefits of digital communication.
Dr Amal al Noufliya, Director-General of Electronic Media and Head of the Workshop Team, noted that the Ministry of Information has formed a dedicated team to assess existing challenges and explore opportunities for boosting positive engagement with social media. “We aim to transform social media challenges into opportunities by promoting awareness and responsible usage, particularly among families and young users,” she said.
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