The UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) conducted an awareness workshop on cyberbullying at its Dubai headquarters.

The workshop was part of a series of activities and gatherings organised by the UAE mGovernment in order to spread knowledge about the deliberate use of information technology to harm others.

It was organized by the TRA subsidiary body, the UAE Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT) and concentrated on the topic of “cyberbullying”.

Present at the event were social workers from several public and private schools in the country who were informed on this rising phenomenon which poses a real challenge on various societal segments, particularly teenagers.

The workshop, led by Salah Khalifa Al Binjassim, senior business consultant at TA3Awon Consultations, discussed ways to deal with a multitude of negative elements that accompany the use of the Internet.

Binjassim also identified the problems students are expected to face in relation to bullying from a cybersecurity perspective.

The workshop agenda included a comprehensive introduction to the process of bullying, methods for the victim to identify the bullying, how to deal with a cyberbully and the best ways to help the families of the victims, he noted.

In addition, other aspects of the topic were addressed including how to deal with the impact of cyberbullying, the importance of effective communication between all parties involved and issues pertaining to the parents, added Al Binjassim.

Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, the director general of mGovernment, said: "Maintaining the security, integrity and privacy of Internet users is a crucial priority for us, especially in light of the significant increase of smartphone use and social media engagement among our youth."

"We are well aware of the significant role that educational institutions play in raising the awareness of students about the potential threats and risks that arise from Internet use. As such, we gather them today in this workshop to inform them on how to reach out and protect young people from any cyber exploitations,” he stated.

"Internet use and the reliance on modern technology is an integral part of our daily lives, requiring a clear and studied mechanism that knows how to deal with this reality by all concerned parties, specifically families and schools," added Al Mansouri.

The aeCERT said more meetings and dialogues on this subject will be introduced in the near future with the presence of many specialists in the field, thus helping mitigate the adverse effects on a social and individual level.-TradeArabia News Service