A child’s digital world does not end when the screen goes dark. Its influence reaches into behaviour, values and emotional wellbeing — putting family conversations at the heart of a new national campaign to keep young people safe online.
The Ministry of Social Development and Family Sunday launched “Digitally Aware Family”, bringing together 20 national entities under the slogan “Their Protection, Your Responsibility”.
The campaign places digital safety firmly within the family wellbeing agenda, equipping parents and children to recognise online risks and build safer, more balanced relationships with technology.
Its central message is that protection takes more than restrictions: it requires awareness, open dialogue and everyday habits that help children navigate the internet responsibly and ask for help when something goes wrong.
His Excellency Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Family Khalifa bin Issa al-Kubaisi said digital safety had grown beyond a technical concern to become a family and societal priority, with implications for child-rearing, mental health, privacy and stability at home.
As digital platforms become woven into daily life, children’s online experiences inevitably influence their behaviour, values and wellbeing, he said. Families therefore remain the first line of defence, helping young people develop sound judgement while nurturing Qatari values and national identity.
Al-Kubaisi stressed that effective protection depended on active awareness, continuing family dialogue and balanced digital habits. Blanket restrictions alone were insufficient; young people also needed the confidence to recognise risks, manage them safely and seek support.
That approach runs through the campaign’s three interconnected phases: “Risk Awareness”, “Practical Protection” and “Responsibility & Reporting”. Together, they move the focus from understanding potential dangers to taking protective action and knowing when to raise the alarm.
The initiative addresses the places where children increasingly spend their digital lives: the internet, social media, games and apps. It aims to help both children and parents understand risks and prevention, encourage responsible online behaviour and bring national partners together around clear, consistent safety messages.
Its reach extends beyond the home to social and psychological specialists, content creators and organisations supporting family welfare, recognising that protecting children requires a wider circle of informed adults and institutions.
To put practical support within easy reach, the ministry also launched www.esafety.qa, a central portal offering educational guides, awareness materials, useful links and other digital resources.
The campaign operates under the Digital Safety Committee for Children and Youth, which brings relevant national entities together to assess digital safety trends, recommend policies and awareness initiatives, and coordinate institutional action. Its remit also encompasses legislation, resources and technical support to help create a safer digital environment across Qatar.
The initiative forms part of the ministry’s National Strategy for 2025–2030, “From Care to Empowerment”, which seeks to strengthen family stability and cohesion while helping households adapt to rapid technological change. It also supports the human and social development pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030.
The ministry urged families and community partners to take part and use the portal’s resources to make digital safety an everyday practice — as familiar at home as any other habit that protects a child’s wellbeing.
