“Our Children in the Digital World”: Terrace Talks opens a conversation on our shared responsibility for children’s digital safety

Beyond ONE Saudi Arabia brought together voices from telecommunications, digital sociology, family counselling and parenting in Riyadh to explore how to build a safer, more positive digital experience for children

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, September 2026: Beyond ONE Saudi Arabia hosted a new edition of its conversation series, Terrace Talks, in Riyadh under the theme “Our Children in the Digital World”, bringing together diverse voices and expertise to explore the shared responsibility of creating a safer, more positive digital experience for children.

The session followed the launch in July of Aman, the digital child-protection plans from Virgin Mobile Saudi Arabia, a Beyond ONE Saudi Arabia brand. Aman is the first service in the Kingdom to provide protection for children directly at the mobile-network level, without requiring additional applications or complex device settings.

The conversation moved beyond the product itself to the wider question that led to its development: how can families, telecommunications and technology companies, educators and society as a whole share responsibility for children’s digital safety, while still allowing them to benefit from technology?

The session was moderated by Reham Baazeem, Legal Director for the Middle East and Africa at Beyond ONE, and featured Yaarob Al-Sayegh, CEO of Beyond ONE Saudi Arabia; Ahmad Al-Beshri, Marketing and Communications Consultant and Digital Sociology Researcher; Dr. Amal Ali Al-Hawsawi, Child and Adolescent Counselling and Family Therapy Consultant with 25 years of experience working with children and families; Marah Ottom, creator of the Momcast podcast and working mother, who also works in the telecommunications and digital services sector; and Ali Al-Khalifah, Director of Marketing and Product Management at Beyond ONE Saudi Arabia.

From parents’ needs to simpler solutions

Yaarob Al-Sayegh reflected on how Aman developed from Beyond ONE’s strategy of putting customer needs at the heart of its digital services and looking for practical ways to address the challenges families face. The aim, he explained, was something simple and accessible that did not require parents to navigate complicated technology or additional applications.

“Every company starts with a clear vision and strategy for what it wants to offer its customers. For us, the question was how we could add real value to our customers’ experience and develop innovative digital services that respond to their needs. Aman came from that thinking: a simple solution that does not require additional complexity and can help parents provide a level of protection for their children.”

Al-Sayegh also stressed that digital child safety cannot rest with one party alone. Telecommunications companies can develop tools and solutions, while regulators play an important role in encouraging initiatives that serve society and promote more responsible use of technology.

Childhood has changed, and so have the influences shaping it

From a social and research perspective, Ahmad Al-Beshri discussed how technology has changed the experience of childhood itself. Families, schools and peers have traditionally played the central role in passing on values, norms and behaviours; today, digital technology has become another powerful influence in that process.

“Children today do not experience technology simply as a tool they use. It is part of their social reality. This means that the roles of families, schools and peers in social development are no longer operating in exactly the same way, because technology is now also influencing values, ideas and behaviours.”

Al-Beshri emphasised the role of families and schools in helping children develop self-regulation rather than relying solely on restrictions. He also pointed to emerging questions around artificial intelligence, noting that instant access to information could change how children value and apply knowledge, while interactions with chatbots may introduce entirely new forms of human-technology relationships.

“We are entering a form of interaction that society has not experienced at this scale before. A child may engage with a chatbot almost as though it were another person. That raises new questions about future social relationships and the cumulative impact these interactions could have on children.”

Protection starts with trust

Speaking from her experience as a mother, Marah Ottom highlighted two concerns familiar to many parents: the amount of time children spend on devices, and the content they may encounter before they are emotionally or cognitively ready to understand it.

“What matters to me as a mother is that if my daughter sees something online that frightens her or that she does not understand, I want to be the person she comes to. We need to build trust with our children so they feel comfortable talking to us about what they see, and so we can help them understand what is right and what is wrong.”

Ottom said parents do not expect telecommunications companies to raise their children for them, but they do expect companies to be partners by providing clear, transparent and easy-to-use tools.

“Technology is an essential part of our lives, so safety needs to be part of how it is designed, not simply an additional feature. Parents do not want something complicated. They need simple, practical solutions that help them play their own role.”

She summed up her approach to parenting in the digital world in three words: love, firmness and balance. The goal, she said, is not to create a world without risk, but to raise children who can recognise risks and know how to respond to them.

Values and awareness as the first line of protection

Drawing on her work with children and families, Dr. Amal Al-Hawsawi emphasised that technical safeguards alone cannot replace the values and awareness children develop at home. As the digital environment evolves, she noted, families need to evolve how they guide their children, while continuing to nurture the ethical, religious and cultural values rooted in Saudi society that help children make responsible decisions even when adults are not watching.

“As professionals and parents, we need to raise awareness of how children use digital devices and ensure that this use is healthy and appropriate for their psychological and social wellbeing. This brings us back to the role of the family in monitoring how children use these devices and the impact they may have on them. If we begin to notice nightmares or anxiety, or if digital use starts to affect a child’s family life or interactions with others, these are signs that parents need to pause and pay attention.”

Saying “no” is not enough

Ali Al-Khalifah focused on the importance of conversation and explanation rather than restriction alone. When parents set boundaries, he said, children need to understand the reasons behind them.

“When we tell a child ‘no’, we also need to explain why. Restriction without explanation can create resistance. When children understand the reason, they begin to build an internal compass that can help them make the right decision later, even when their parents are not there.”

Al-Khalifah stressed that awareness, communication and a culture of open discussion within the family are essential to preparing children for a digital environment that will continue to evolve.

From control to empowerment

The session concluded with a shared message: technology will remain an integral part of children’s lives, and the answer is neither to isolate them from it nor to attempt to remove every possible risk. The panel called for a shift in thinking from control to empowerment: simpler tools for parents, stronger digital literacy for children, more open dialogue within families, and services designed with safety built in from the start.

That approach reflects the thinking behind Aman. Beyond ONE Saudi Arabia has positioned the service as part of a wider effort to develop telecommunications solutions that go beyond connectivity, supporting responsible technology use, digital safety and families navigating the Kingdom’s digital transformation.

By bringing together perspectives from industry, parents, digital sociology and family counselling, Terrace Talks reinforced a central idea: protecting children in the digital world does not begin or end with a single technology. It is a shared responsibility built on awareness, dialogue and trust, supported by technology designed around the needs of families.

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About Virgin Mobile Saudi Arabia

Virgin Mobile Saudi Arabia is one of the Kingdom’s leading digital telecommunications providers and operates under Beyond ONE Saudi Arabia. The company delivers an innovative connectivity experience built on flexibility, simplicity and digital-first solutions. It offers a range of plans and services designed to meet the needs of diverse customer segments, with a strong focus on enhancing the customer experience through continuous innovation and advanced digital technologies. As part of its commitment to delivering services that go beyond traditional connectivity, Virgin Mobile Saudi Arabia continues to introduce innovative solutions that empower users and promote the safe and responsible use of technology, in line with the Kingdom’s digital transformation.

For more information, please visit: www.virginmobile.sa

About Beyond ONE

Beyond ONE is a global digital services provider redefining digital experiences for consumers across high-growth markets. Built on a strong telecommunications foundation, the company delivers innovative, digital-first solutions that empower customers through greater flexibility, simplicity and personalisation.

Founded in 2021, Beyond ONE has rapidly expanded its global footprint through the acquisition of Virgin Mobile MEA, Friendi Mobile MEA and Virgin Mobile Latin America, alongside the global launch of Virgin Connect. Today, the company operates across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Pakistan, Mexico, Chile and Colombia.

Through its portfolio of brands, Beyond ONE continues to deliver innovative connectivity and digital services that support digital transformation and create smarter, more seamless customer experiences.

For more information, visit: www.beyond.one