RIYADH: Snapchat users in Saudi Arabia feel more prepared to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, according to a survey from the social media firm.
Four in five of those who took part in the survey said they were in a better position than they were a month ago to combat the global health emergency.
Other findings from the survey showed that the app’s users were also aware of avoiding misinformation and fake news about the pandemic, with 67 percent of those surveyed turning to official government sources for information on the outbreak, 26 percent tuning into TV news and 30 percent using general online news sources.
A lockdown was imposed last month in Saudi Arabia, with people only allowed to leave their homes for essential purposes such as accessing health care or buying groceries.
The curfew, which is in place until further notice, has seen Snapchat users spending the time at home for personal growth.
Almost half said they were looking after themselves through self-care activities, 36 percent were working on their physical fitness, while 33 percent said they were using the curfew period to learn a new skill.
Snapchat has millions of active users in the Kingdom and is reported to be more popular than Instagram or Twitter.
Abdulla Alhammadi, MENA business lead of Snap Inc., said that people in Saudi Arabia were spending more time to connect with their close friends, families and loved ones because of the impact the outbreak was having on daily life.
“Shedding light on how the community is facing the current situation has helped us to provide people with creative ways and tools to interact with their family members or co-workers in a fun and engaging way, while ensuring they have access to credible, fact-based information about coronavirus,” he said.
People were finding ways to maintain their mental well-being despite the disruption of COVID-19, according to the survey’s findings which said that 44 percent of participants were spending time with family and friends to keep calm during the upheaval. Video games and fitness were also given as examples of relieving stress.
Some Saudis believed the pandemic and curfew would give people pause for thought about future lifestyles.
“Coronavirus was not a barrier for many Saudis but, during this pandemic, there is an opportunity to reconsider our daily lifestyle and find useful ways to build family and social relations,” Dr. Majed Abdullah Al-Hedayan, a senior legal consultant and analyst, told Arab News.
He said there was time to explore the role of technology in helping students complete their formal education and the development of their personal skills through virtual classes. The rise in remote working would also have benefits for the community, he added, while quarantine had revealed the ability of citizens to invest their time positively, citing reading, cooking, exercise and playing traditional games as proof of how Saudis were discovering new talents and interests.
Zafar Hasan, an electronic learning consultant at the King Saud University, said the survey painted a reliable picture of peoples’ activities given how extensively the app was used in the country.
“I agree with the fact that people are spending time on personal development and fitness, and the survey seems to project a current reflection of peoples’ activities during this time,” he told Arab News.
Snapchat has in recent weeks rolled out new features and content to help Saudis deal with the challenges of the pandemic.
Saudis feel more prepared to prevent coronavirus spread, says Snapchat survey
https://arab.news/vkeg8
Saudis feel more prepared to prevent coronavirus spread, says Snapchat survey
- Some Saudis believed the pandemic and curfew would give people pause for thought about future lifestyles
Human development program helping to expand pathways for Saudi students into elite global universities
- HCDP takes a comprehensive approach, supporting citizens throughout their lives from early childhood education through to lifelong learning
DAVOS: Saudi Arabia is accelerating efforts to equip its young population with the skills and global exposure needed to compete on the world stage, as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 agenda, the CEO of the Human Capability Development Program told Arab News.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Anas Al-Mudaifer said the program, one of Vision 2030’s realization initiatives, is enhancing the competitiveness of Saudi citizens by investing in their skills, knowledge and long-term development.
“Our mandate is to improve and enhance the competitiveness of the Saudi citizen,” he said. “We want to make sure they have the opportunity to compete locally and globally,” he added.
The HCDP takes a comprehensive approach, supporting citizens throughout their lives from early childhood education through to lifelong learning, while aligning education and training with the evolving needs of the labor market, he said.
Al-Mudaifer added that reforms are underway across the education system, including expanded access to early childhood education, new school curricula and teaching methods, and stronger alignment between higher education, vocational training and future labor market demands.
A key pillar of the strategy is preparing Saudi youth for global competition, a push that is already delivering tangible results.
“We have seen Saudis competing in admission to Ivy League schools,” he said. “More than 1,000 Saudi students are now enrolled in top 30 universities every year.”
He added that Saudi Arabia now ranks as the second-largest source of international students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, behind only China, a milestone he described as “a great achievement and a great footstep for Saudi students.”
Beyond academia, Saudi graduates are increasingly securing roles in leading international institutions and companies. Al-Mudaifer pointed to Saudi professionals working in prestigious US hospitals such as the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, as well as global technology firms including Tesla and Meta.
To support continuous upskilling, the program is also investing heavily in lifelong learning. More than 2 million Saudi citizens now receive training each year, both domestically and overseas, as rapid technological change reshapes the global labor market.
“With the emergence of intelligent technologies, especially artificial intelligence, we need to make sure the Saudi workforce is always up to date with the requirements of local and global employers,” he said.
Among recent initiatives is the launch of a platform which offers short, six-to seven-week micro and nano degrees in fields relevant to the Saudi labor market.
The courses are accredited by employers and international training bodies, providing fast-track pathways into employment.
Entrepreneurship is another priority area, particularly in technology. In partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the program has launched initiatives that send Saudi tech founders to global innovation hubs such as Silicon Valley and Berlin for intensive boot camps and growth programs.
Al-Mudaifer said that Saudi Arabia’s progress is rooted in global collaboration rather than isolation.
“There is no leader alone,” he added, highlighting that the Kingdom works closely with international partners and convenes global experts annually at the Human Capability Initiative Conference in Riyadh to shape the future of human development.
