Facebook, being favorite social networking platform in Arab World, is getting into full gear in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Powered by high rate of users’ acceptability to join it, UAE stands out with startling figure of 3.6 million of active Facebook users which is more than 70 percent of its total population.
Social networks are not alien to Arab world. After Arab uprising, Social networks specially, Facebook gained currency and made a decisive rock and roll that later led the status quos to get softened and flexible which could never been thought earlier.
As a counter-strategy accompanied by other Arab countries, UAE has to introduce various cyber laws and censorship policy to tame Facebook before it get unleashed to challenge the system.
However, despite all odds and some unsavory experiences, Facebook growth in UAE is registering fast upward trend. According to Fisheye Analytics (registered as YourWebBrand Pte. Ltd.), a company which offers best media monitoring and analytics services in UAE and other countries, UAE houses 3.6 million Facebook users with 69 percent males and 31 percent females.
Company data revealed that UAE had a Facebook penetration rate of approximately 43 percent while Dubai and Abu Dhabi have the top concentration of Facebook users in the UAE. Dubai is ruling the roost with around 2.4 million Facebook users which make up about 64 percent of total users in UAE. Abu Dhabi is on second position with Facebook users standing at 0.9 million constituting around 24 percent of total users in the United Arab Emirates.
Another thrilling fact that trumpeted the Facebook robust growth is that highest number of Facebook users in the UAE is youth aging between 22 and 30 that constitute 1.6 million of total population. This number is about 44 percent of total users.
Rise of Facebook is best to be judged with the progress it gained during last years. In 2012, Facebook users stood at 3.39 million which rose to 3.59 million at the end of 2013. This shows a surge of 5.8 percent which is marvelous in UAE.
The seamless progress for Facebook is not at all the time. There are some twists and turns which hamper its online movement. Partial restrictions leave a bad taste in the mouth of users in UAE. Some years back, Facebook accessibility was denied.
Rumors of a ban on Facebook outspread due to ban on Orkut.com, a social network site same like to Facebook.
Orkut.com had to be blocked by UAE’s Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) after identifying it morally offensive. However, later TRA clarified that Facebook had not been banned rather technical fault hit the system that caused connectivity issue.
Story goes on further and another glitch slowed down UAE internet activity leading to some impediments to gain access to Facebook in December 2013.
Steve john, a social media executive in a private company told when talked about UAE online censorship that that If compared with other regions, UAE internet censorship is not much harsh. Indeed, much lesser than somewhere like China or Iran for example. He said that filtering policy focused on pornography, dating, gambling, and other culturally or religiously ugly internet stuff.
The cyber law that came into force really issued alarm throughout the UAE. As per law, Facebook users who posted images or videos to the social networking sites without concerned person’s consent has to undergo a minimum 6 months imprisonment or a fine of up to AED 500,000. An official revealed that the law would take its course on uploading posting images or videos of people without their permission and it is a crime to someone’s privacy is infringed.
“Article 24 of the cybercrimes law stipulates that anyone who uses an information network to infringe upon someone else’s privacy shall be punished by a minimum prison sentence of six months and/or a fine of between Dh 150,000 and Dh 500,000,” official said.
The UAE is toiling hard to keep its legal system align with daily online updates as privacy issues have taken central stage in connection with social media robust growth.
Writer is a Social Media Manager engaged with Networks Trend (IT solution & Services company). He can be reached by email at yaseerhabibkhan@gmail.com