{
  "id": 12096101,
  "title": "QF research puts families at heart of Qatar’s national digital safety drive",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/qf-research-puts-families-at-heart-of-qatars-national-digital-safety",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T06:44:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Peninsula Qatar",
    "slug": "the-peninsula-qatar",
    "url": "https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/05/10/2026/qf-research-puts-families-at-heart-of-qatars-national-digital-safety-drive"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Doha, Qatar - To safeguard children in the digital age, Qatar Foundation's research is supporting the national \"Digitally Aware Family\" campaign. This 14-week initiative, from September to December, aims to educate families on responsible technology use. Led by the Qatar Foundation, it unites various entities to promote digital safety and encourage families to guide children towards a balanced use of technology.\n\nQatar Foundation's Doha International Family Institute (DIFI) conducted research indicating that digital technology plays a significant role in family life. A 2024 study found that 81% of children have internet access and spend approximately 4.5 hours online daily. Parents noted both benefits, such as access to information and social connections, and challenges, including sleep disruption for 41% of children.\n\nDIFI's 2026 study on family cohesion revealed that 76% of respondents felt family members were distracted by social media, and 71% believed younger family members spend more time on social media compared to older ones. Only 54% of families had rules regarding social media use.\n\nDIFI emphasizes that addressing the digital challenge requires more than just limiting screen time; it demands family engagement and support. According to a 2023 report, 98.28% of parents were unaware of local services to help with excessive internet use, highlighting a gap in support. The institute stresses that empowering families with knowledge, digital literacy, and practical tools is crucial to protecting children from digital harm.",
  "summary": "<p>Doha, Qatar: As children spend increasing amounts of time online, protecting them from the potential harms of digital technology is becoming a shared responsibility, one that begins at home.</p> <p>Through its research on children, families and digital wellbeing, Qatar Foundation is contributing evidence and expertise to Qatar’s national “Digitally Aware Family” campaign, helping strengthen…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}