UAE Officials Urge Parents to Learn Children’s Online Slang to Spot Hidden Dangers

Understanding the Risks of Online Slang

The Child Safety Organisation, which operates under the Sharjah Family and Community Council, says that seemingly harmless emojis, short abbreviations or jokes shared in group chats can mask bullying, inappropriate conduct or other threats. It notes that as youngsters spend more time online, their communication often relies on expressions that older generations may not understand.

The organisation presented data from UAE authorities showing that 97 percent of children aged seven and above regularly use digital devices, while one in three had been contacted by someone they did not know online. It also highlighted the recent introduction of the Child Digital Safety Law and the stepped‑up monitoring of more than 4,000 digital platforms aimed at curbing harmful content and exploitation.

Guidance for Families

Parents are advised to take an active interest in the language their children use online, keeping an eye on new abbreviations, viral jokes and fast‑spreading trends. Recognising these cues can help adults spot when an apparently ordinary chat actually involves bullying, manipulation or attempts to persuade a child to hide information from the family.

However, the organisation cautions that every unfamiliar symbol should not be automatically treated as a danger sign; the meaning of an emoji or abbreviation can shift depending on the platform, the conversation and the relationship between the users, so a seemingly suspicious expression may be harmless in context.

Consequently, caregivers should look beyond individual words or symbols, focusing on the overall tone of the exchange and any changes in the child’s behaviour. They are also encouraged to become familiar with the platforms their children frequent, the content they watch and the people they interact with, and to check video‑game age ratings regularly to ensure suitability for the child’s age and developmental stage.

Building Trust Through Awareness

Dr Hanadi Saleh Al Yafei, Director General of the Child Safety Organisation, stressed that protecting children online starts with understanding how they communicate. She said, “We cannot protect our children from risks we do not recognise, and we cannot recognise them unless we understand their digital world,” and added that parents must be willing to learn the language their children use, even when the expressions appear strange or unfamiliar.

The organisation emphasised that digital awareness should foster trust between parents and children rather than serve as a pretext for excessive surveillance. It urged that children feel able to discuss uncomfortable or troubling online experiences without fearing blame or punishment.

Parents are also encouraged to consult reliable online‑safety resources, discuss unfamiliar expressions with their children and stay abreast of emerging trends instead of waiting for a problem to arise.

Finally, the organisation warned that conversations involving secrecy, manipulation, bullying or inappropriate requests merit particular attention, and called on parents, teachers and caregivers to make digital literacy a regular part of family discussions, stressing that keeping children safe online increasingly depends on adults grasping the digital environments where youngsters spend their time.