In implementation of the directives of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and in line with the strategic plan for women, the Women’s Affairs section at the University of Information Technology and Communications, in cooperation with the Center for Continuing Education, organized an online seminar entitled “The Modern Educational Challenge in Light of the Momentum of Social Media”, presented by the writer and author, Professor Sarah Al-Sarraf.
The seminar reviewed the most prominent challenges facing the educational process in an era of media openness and social media, stressing that education without teaching may graduate people with morals but not cognitively qualified, while teaching without education may produce intellectuals but without conscience or societal awareness.

The seminar addressed several topics, including social media as a competing teacher, highlighting the reality of “influencers” who have become role models for children and youth, sometimes as an alternative to family and school, and the accompanying ease of success and adoption of false values, and the process of commodifying childhood. It discussed the phenomenon of exploitation of children by some parents in digital content, and what results from that lack of trust in the family and violation of privacy In addition to the culture of “trend” and how “digital fashions” have turned into an alternative source of values for young people, so that what the child considers a value no longer necessarily comes from the family but from the momentary “trend”.
The seminar also pointed out the collapse of family privacy, the danger of continuous photography inside homes and family events, and the resulting erosion of the sense of security and family belonging.

The seminar presented practical solutions to enhance trust through effective communication channels, periodic meetings, positive language, mutual respect, and involving the student in dialogue, with a focus on the learner’s interest first, including the role of the role model educator and that education by role model is the most influential, noting that respecting students’ imagination and encouraging them to express and discuss the phenomena of “social media” and ”trend” with them opens the door to build an intellectually and socially sound generation.

At the conclusion of the seminar , Al-Sarraf stressed that discussions are a door to excellence, and the true success of the educator and teacher is represented in contributing to the upbringing of an intellectually, morally and socially balanced personality, stressing that education and teaching are inseparable two branches, and that both together ensure the building of generations capable of facing the challenges of the times, and the seminar witnessed wide interaction from Academics, students and those interested in educational affairs, who participated with interventions and questions that influenced the topics of the session.