Youth urged to navigate digital media wisely

Dr. Ali bin Mohamed Al Romaihi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bahrain Institute for Political Development (BIPD), took part in a session on leadership and awareness in the digital media age at Youth City 2030.

The session was organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs in cooperation with its strategic partner, the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), in conjunction with International Youth Day.

Dr. Al Romaihi stressed the importance of raising youth awareness and strengthening their ability to distinguish reliable information from misleading content, noting that this is essential to protecting national identity and reinforcing a sense of belonging amid the growing influence of digital and social media.

He said the digital age presents challenges beyond the sheer volume of information available, including rumours, misleading news, fake accounts, influence campaigns and algorithmic manipulation.

He emphasised that informed and responsible young people can play an important role in protecting society, strengthening social cohesion and enhancing confidence in national institutions.

Dr. Al Romaihi also highlighted the need for young people to develop skills to verify and analyse information and understand the objectives and messages behind content circulated on social media platforms, which have become an integral part of their daily lives.

He underlined the importance of strengthening awareness, protecting national identity and maintaining public confidence in state institutions, while distinguishing between political awareness based on rationality and national responsibility and politicisation driven by emotion and selectivity.

The session focused on awareness and national identity as key elements in strengthening the relationship between citizens and state institutions.