JEDDAH: The latest technology and modern ways of living help us in many ways but there are also big drawbacks to this latest technology and smartphones.
According to experts and doctors, the main victims of the latest technology are children.
Seven-year-old Raed bin Abddat is addicted to videogames on his mobile to the point where his eyesight deteriorated so much in two months that if it was not taken care of he could have become blind.
Raed’s mother, Shazia Khan, told Arab News that it happened because Raed spent hours sitting with his mobile and PC playing videogames. Even if his parents wanted him to stop he fought back and secretly used his computer or mobile, and due to this, the power of his eyes became +3, which his doctor said is the last stage and after that he would become blind if it was not taken care of.
Another child, Rayana Naeem, also faced the same problem when the doctor strictly told her younger sister Tyba Naeem to keep her away from computers, games and mobile phone screens otherwise she could lose her eyesight. Her eyesight is affected but can be saved from further loss.
Dr. Adnan Khan, from one of the clinics, said that because of the latest technology children are badly affected. A number of children have come to his clinic with eyesight problems due to sitting for hours in front of TV, computer screens or mobiles.
Children should be encouraged to exercise in the open air instead of sitting glued to their tablets. These devices have various consequences on a child’s life, he explained.
He said the screen of a mobile and computer are very harmful to eyesight, especially when children continually stare at it to play games. He also said this addiction not only affects eyesight but also their health. According to the doctor, the number of children with weak eyesight is increasing these days.
Sociologists working for social and charity centers have called on parents not to let their children spend too much time on smartphones and tablets.
A survey done by Saudi social experts also revealed that the frequent use of latest technology by children is destroying not only their health but also affecting their behavior, making them lazy, weakening their imaginative thinking abilities and decreasing concentration levels.
According to the survey, children are becoming addicted to technology, which directly affects their behavior. Fifty-nine percent of children who use smartphones, tablets or computers showed less interest in other activities; 37 percent of children who use smartphones or tablets to play video games prefer being alone or don’t like to go out and mingle with people; and 10 percent of children, due to excessive focus on games, are unable to pay proper attention to their studies.
Children spending four to five hours a day on videogames on tablets become aggressive if they aren’t allowed to play. According to the survey, children are spending five hours or more on tablets and video games than they spent five years ago.
According to the survey, in almost 40 percent of homes in the Kingdom children are playing video games every day. Almost 3 million video games are sold annually in the Kingdom, and a child in the Kingdom spends nearly SR1,500 on video games.
In addition, there are 19.6 million Internet users in the Kingdom. Almost 72.8 percent of the people here use smartphones, when SR111 billion was spent in the Kingdom for buying smartphones and the latest technology.
Modern technology takes a heavy toll on children
Modern technology takes a heavy toll on children
Red Sea Global unveils scientific model for regenerative tourism worldwide
- The report details the model’s rollout at “The Red Sea” and “AMAALA” destinations, backed by studies covering 8 marine habitats
TABUK: Red Sea Global (RSG) has unveiled a science-based model aimed at achieving a 30 percent net positive conservation benefit across its tourism destinations by 2040.
The framework is now available for global adoption, according to a statement released by RSG.
Owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Red Sea Global is the multi-project developer behind ambitious regenerative tourism destinations like “The Red Sea” and “AMAALA.”
As a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the company aims to diversify the national economy while setting new global benchmarks for sustainable, nature-positive development.
CEO John Pagano stated that openly sharing this detailed approach will help elevate the global tourism sector and secure a healthier environment for future generations.
The cornerstone of this initiative is the proprietary SIIG Model, a four-step framework:
• Survey: Establish biodiversity baselines and monitor long-term changes.
• Identify: Assess risks to priority habitats and species.
• Intervene: Execute evidence-based actions, such as regulating fishing and enhancing natural habitats.
• Gain: Measure and verify biodiversity improvements.
The report details the model’s rollout at “The Red Sea” and “AMAALA” destinations, backed by extensive 2022–2023 environmental baseline studies covering eight marine habitats and priority species groups during 2022 and 2023.
A major intervention is the 5,015-square-kilometer Fishery Management Area in Al-Wajh Lagoon. The plan reserves 38 percent of the area for priority conservation—protecting 62 percent of local coral reefs—while allocating 61 percent for sustainable fishing.
According to scientific modeling, eliminating fishing in high-protection zones could increase reef fish populations by 113 percent, sharks and rays by 72 percent, and marine mammals by 24 percent. These measures are expected to boost coral resilience, support ecosystem recovery, and protect vulnerable species like sea turtles and seabirds.
Ihab Kindi, RSG’s Red Sea Destination Executive Director, called the data-driven model a practical roadmap for large-scale marine recovery. The complete methodology is available in the new report, “The SIIG Model: A Roadmap Toward Achieving Measurable Conservation Gains.”
