11/12/2025
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11/12/2025
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Photos during a conference titled ‘Digital Consumption and Digital Addiction... Towards Societal Awareness,’ held at the Social Workers Association headquarters.
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 11: Abdullah Al- Rawdan, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Social Workers Association, affirmed the importance of building a conscious and balanced society capable of dealing with the challenges of digital addiction. In his speech at the conference titled “Digital Consumption and Digital Addiction... Towards Societal Awareness,” held at the association’s headquarters, Al-Rawdan explained that the conference aims to promote responsible digital role models and cultivate a critical, informed approach to advertising and digital content.
It seeks to solidify rational consumer behavior and digital awareness within Kuwaiti and Gulf societies for reinforcing the values of social responsibility and informed critique, and reducing the effects of addiction and irresponsible consumption. Al-Rawdan emphasized that the conference title is not just a slogan, but a clear call to reflect on the digital reality and reassess daily relationships with technology, as technology has permeated every home, school, and workplace, with smartphones and screens serving as open windows to the world. He explained that these windows offer vast opportunities for learning, communication, and creativity, but they can also become wide-open doors to the dangers of addiction, irrational consumption, and negative influence from targeted advertising and content.
Digital role models begin with the individual and extend to the family that nurtures them, the school that educates, the media that guides, and the institutions that legislate and plan. The cooperation of all these parties is essential to building a balanced digital society that seizes opportunities and addresses challenges with awareness and wisdom.
Studies have shown internet addiction to be just as dangerous as any other form of addiction, as it negatively impacts mental and physical health, weakens social bonds, and reduces productivity. However, Al-Rawdan noted that technology can serve as a tool for progress if used properly in supporting open education, intercultural communication, and innovation in various fields.
Conference recommendations:
1. Develop practical training programs for parents and teachers on strategies to deal with addictive technology behaviors in children and adolescents.
2. Encourage Kuwaiti social media influencers to create content that promotes responsible digital role models through a “Media Code of Ethics” that limits the unconscious promotion of excessive consumption.
3 Strengthen oversight of digital advertising, particularly content targeting children and adolescents, to reduce misinformation and excessive consumption.
4. Establish a national digital misinformation observatory to monitor content and provide regular reports to policymakers.
5. Develop legislation requiring platforms and influencers to clearly disclose advertising content and sponsorships.
By Mohammed Al-Enezi Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
