Experts in the United Arab Emirates have issued an important warning to all citizens and residents, after growing parental concerns emerged in recent months over digital content presented to children on social media platforms and movie and music streaming services.

Although this content is often displayed in attractive cartoon formats, it contains inappropriate messages, suggestive cues, and behaviors that exceed children’s awareness and developmental stages, raising widespread questions about the standards used to classify “children’s content” and the limits of digital oversight.

Parents stressed that these concerns are no longer isolated observations, but have evolved into a pressing educational and psychological issue, as many songs and animated clips labeled as “children’s content” include hidden messages that conflict with societal values and fail to respect cultural and age-appropriate boundaries.

Several families reported noticeable changes in their children’s language and behavior, often without immediately linking them to digital content consumption, describing the impact as “silent and cumulative.”

Real-Life Experiences

Sarah, the mother of a seven-year-old boy, said she was shocked when her child began repeating unfamiliar phrases during play. Further monitoring revealed that the source was cartoon songs streamed on a children’s platform, prompting the family to suspend access and seek psychological guidance.

Another parent, Hamdan, whose daughter is in third grade, explained that what initially appeared to be harmless cartoon music led to unexpected questions and conversations, later traced back to subtle adult-themed messages embedded in animated content.

Hidden Messages and Psychological Risks

Educational and mental health specialists warn that the real danger lies not in isolated words or scenes, but in the accumulation of implicit messages that shape children’s behavior subconsciously. Short, catchy songs and familiar cartoon characters give such content a false sense of safety, encouraging children to absorb and repeat messages without understanding their implications.

Psychological counselor Hiyam Abu Mishaal explained that children between the ages of three and eight are particularly vulnerable, as they learn through imitation and repetition. Continuous exposure to inappropriate content may disrupt moral development, blur emotional boundaries, and distort the concept of a safe childhood.

Calls for Stronger Oversight

Experts and parents alike are calling for stricter classification standards for children’s digital content, combining human review with algorithmic monitoring, enhancing parental control tools, and accelerating reporting mechanisms.

They emphasized that protecting children online is no longer merely a technical challenge, but a broader social security issue requiring firm regulations, accountability for digital platforms, and coordinated efforts to safeguard future generations.