Sulaiman Alrajhi University has launched the fourth phase of the expanded research event under a national project aimed at promoting digital balance among adolescents in the Kingdom, in partnership with the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) and Johns Hopkins University in the United States.
The project builds on the Ministry of Education’s digital citizenship curricula and seeks to develop local scientific evidence that contributes to shaping future policies supporting healthy use of technology among students.
The event was attended by the leaders of the participating schools and representatives of the supporting entities, alongside the University’s leadership and College Deans. The research team reviewed the project’s four phases, which comprise a stakeholder study, a national survey, a pilot trial, and the randomised controlled trial currently being carried out in schools.
A detailed account was also given of the fieldwork plan, the data collection mechanisms, and the approved ethical and regulatory protocols, in a manner that ensures quality of implementation, the safety of participants and respect for their privacy.
These efforts coincide with the findings of a recent scientific study published in the international journal BMC Public Health, which indicated that adolescents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are among the groups most affected by digital use, and confirmed that school programmes and parental awareness are among the most effective interventions in promoting digital balance.
The study highlighted the negative effects of excessive use of technology on sleep, concentration and physical activity, set against its benefits for social communication and academic support, which reinforces the importance of evidence-based interventions within the educational environment.
The current phase of the project runs from January to May 2026 and includes field visits to schools, distribution of consent forms, collection of baseline data, the start of the digital intervention through the online platform, and then the collection of final data. The research team affirmed that adherence to the protocol and cooperation with the schools are two key elements for the project’s success.
At the close of the event, Sulaiman Alrajhi University expressed its appreciation for the attendance of partners and supporters, affirming that this cooperation embodies a shared commitment to developing national initiatives that contribute to building a healthy and safe digital educational environment and keep pace with the targets of the Kingdom’s Vision for responsible digital transformation.
