The Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Social Media on Family Values and the Development of Emirati Adolescents: Evidence from Emirati Families

The Emirati family is slowly but surely losing a room they never knew they were in. As the
infrastructure of adolescent attention is revolutionized by artificial intelligence, social media
platforms are taking the place of the family as the primary arena where values are to be generated
and nurtured. And yet, this is a society of great technological and scientific leadership and immense
cultural roots. The country is at a crossroads and it is a moment unparalleled in history and, quite
simply, with no roadmaps to guide it. The study presented here thus explores this pivotal moment
through the eyes and experiences of 46 Emirati families who are currently at the forefront of this
challenge as they attempt to come to terms with the changes brought about by this incredible
revolution.
Using a structured field survey conducted with Emirati households containing adolescents aged
between 10 and 19 years; the full span of adolescence as defined by UNESCO1
; and situated
within the UAE's National AI Strategy 2031 and the Year of the Family 2026, the paper examines
three core issues: how Emirati families perceive the intellectual and cultural risks emanating from
social media toward their adolescent children; how artificial intelligence may serve as a protective
and pedagogical tool for adolescent development; and within what types of human-centered,
culturally sensitive structures the integration of family and technology may be rendered legitimate
and effective.2