School children’s use of digital devices, social media and parental knowledge and involvement – the case of Abu Dhabi

This paper looks at the usage of social media devices and applications, and parental knowledge and involvement among Abu Dhabi children in Grade 6 or higher. It examines the young children’s usage of personal computers, mobile phones and tablet PCs, and social media related apps. The paper tries to understand the reasons for joining or not joining online social networking. It explores the parental knowledge of such activities and their chance of being invited to join their children’s’ social networking groups. More than 31,000 children from private and public schools participated in the online survey. Results show a high home access to the Internet of 91.7 %. Children reported using social networks mainly for keeping in touch with family and friends, and to find information. Most of the children reported that their parents were aware of their online social networking activities (82.2 %). About 38.7 % said that their parents were in their friend group on online social networking. There is negative correlation between time spent on social networks and perceived student performance in specific subjects. The paper also discusses gender, grade (or age), and school type and implications.