What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
Education experts highlighted the invisible threat of cyberbullying among school pupils as the UAE launches a national drive to tackle online trolls.
A digital well-being policy was announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday with the goal of ensuring safe and positive experiences for people of all ages when surfing the internet.
The strategy will include an online behaviour code that will be taught to Emiratis in government schools and a new rating system to keep parents informed about the video games their children play.
Carolyn Yaffe, a counsellor and cognitive behavioural therapist at Camali Clinic in Dubai, said such anonymous abuse had become an increasing concern as a result of the rise of remote learning prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Children are feeling isolated and are stressed out and lash out at each other
“Cyberbullying has increased vastly in the past year and I have been hearing different instances of it," she said.
“Now, bullying can be done anonymously because children are online.
“It’s easier to target someone when you can be anonymous, because you don’t have to see the pain you cause.
“Children are playing games with strangers and they don’t know who is perpetuating the behaviour.”
Ms Yaffe shared accounts of online bullying she had learnt about at schools in the UAE.
In one instance, a young girl was targeted by classmates after she refused to share her test answers.
Another senior in high school was part of a WhatsApp group and faced verbal attacks and social isolation when she studied online.
“Children are spending all their time online and some are not seeing friends at all," she said.
“Children are feeling isolated and are stressed out and lash out at each other.”
Ms Yaffe called on parents to be mindful of how their children were interacting with others and to talk to them about any issues they may be facing.
Ms Yaffe said parents needed to communicate with teachers and school counsellors to address any concerns.
She said it was important for schools to ensure pupils kept their cameras on while studying remotely so teachers could be aware of what pupils were doing.
She highlighted the need for pupils to step away from computer screens and spend time with loved ones.
“It's important to structure family time. During the evening, watch movies together or have game nights,” she said.
Fiona Cottam, principal at Hartland International School in Dubai, said it was crucial that cyberbullying was dealt with and that pupils raised any concerns with teachers.
"We have been made aware of chat groups and children can be unpleasant to each other, and we make sure that we have discussions," Ms Cottam said.
“We have strict policies at schools and mobile phones cannot be used.”
But, she said, she was aware of cyberbullying happening outside school hours,
She said pupils needed to speak out, report bullying and inform someone responsible.
A surge in online bullying was sparked around the globe during the pandemic.
According to the Cybersmile Foundation, an anti-bullying non-profit organisation, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner reported a 50 per cent increase in incidents of cyberbullying during the first three weeks of the country’s lockdown.
In the UK, one in five children aged between 10 and 15 faced some kind of online bullying in 2019, amid fears that the country's lockdown would worsen the situation.
UAE's new digital well-being policy will be taught at government schools from nursery to Grade 12.
It will be incorporated into subjects such as moral education, social studies, Islamic education and computer sciences.
Material will also be given to parents so they may learn how to protect themselves and their children.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR
US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.
KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.
THE SPECS
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Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
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Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
The biog
Name: Ayisha Abdulrahman Gareb
Age: 57
From: Kalba
Occupation: Mukrema, though she washes bodies without charge
Favourite things to do: Visiting patients at the hospital and give them the support they need.
Role model: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.
Stage 3 results
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 4:42:33
2 Tadej Pocagar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:03
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana 0:01:30
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
5 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:56
General Classification after Stage 3:
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 12:30:02
2 Tadej Pocagar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:07
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana 0:01:35
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:40
5 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Wilco Kelderman (NED) Team Sunweb) 0:02:06
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Company%20profile
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
