Risk assessments of virtual interactions on Saudi families

The paper frames the internet as a transformative space (cyberspace) enabling virtual communities and interactions that transcend physical boundaries and reshape social relations. Virtual interactions influence individuals’ values, goals, and behaviors, raising concerns about privacy, safety, and a range of emerging health, psychological, and social risks. Within Saudi society, rapid modernization and widespread adoption of social media intersect with traditional values, creating both opportunities and risks for families. The study targets the Saudi family context where internet use is pervasive and participation in social networks is very high. Research questions: Main question: What are the cultural and behavioral risks of virtual interactions in the Saudi family? Sub-questions: (1) What is the level of cultural and behavioral risks of virtual interactions in the Saudi family? (2) What is the occurrence likelihood of cultural and behavioral risks of virtual interactions in the Saudi family? The study is anchored in cognitive-behavioral theory (perceptions and interpretations drive behavior), risk society (manufactured risks of modernization), and liquid modernity (fluidity of social relations amplified by technology), highlighting the importance of assessing and managing risks to family security, values, and thought.

The literature identifies internet addiction and problematic use as cross-cutting issues affecting cognitive, emotional, and social development, with variants including cyber-relational addiction. Documented correlates and outcomes include depression, impulsivity, loneliness, low self-esteem, poor social/emotional skills, decreased academic performance, sleep disorders, neurophysiologic changes, and sexual risks. Studies also address online harassment and cyber-bullying, showing significant prevalence among adolescents and associations with increased risk-taking online. In the Saudi and broader Islamic context, prior work notes threats to intellectual security, promotion of extremist ideologies, and erosion of family and moral values. Cultural differences in internet use and the paucity of cross-cultural research are highlighted. Against the backdrop of rapid social and technological change in Saudi Arabia (oil-driven modernization, consumerism, smartphone ubiquity), family structures, roles, and values have been impacted, and social media’s openness may conflict with traditional norms while also reducing isolation. National statistics (2021) show 92.5% of individuals using the internet and 93.9% of users engaging in social networks, underscoring the salience of virtual interactions for Saudi families.

Design: Descriptive research using a social survey to assess cultural and behavioral risks of virtual interactions in Saudi families, including their levels and likelihoods. Setting and sample: Representative sample of families in Hail region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; N=1524 family members (fathers=155; mothers=145; sons=474; daughters=750), surveyed between 15 December 2022 and 31 January 2023, based on estimates from the 2018 Saudi families’ income and expenditure survey. Instrument: A list of 15 risks derived from literature review and an initial pilot survey of 100 Saudi families. Two dimensions: Cultural risks (6 items) and Behavioral risks (9 items). Validity and reliability: Construct validity supported (correlation coefficients=0.736**), internal consistency reliability high (Cronbach’s alpha=0.955), statistically significant at p<0.01. Analysis: Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, rankings) to determine levels (Low=0–1.67; Moderate=1.68–3.33; High=3.34–5.0) and likelihood of risks, and a severity-likelihood matrix classifying overall threat.

• Most dangerous social networking platforms (by mean threat rating): TikTok (Mean=4.03; Rank 1), Twitter (3.83; Rank 2), Snapchat (3.70; Rank 3), YouTube (3.15; Rank 4), Instagram (2.95; Rank 5). Lower-ranked: WhatsApp (2.43; 6), Facebook (2.30; 7), Skype (2.07; 8), Line (2.02; 9), Messenger (1.97; 10), Pinterest (1.87; 11), LinkedIn (1.85; 12). - Overall level of risk: General average mean for all risks=3.64 (High). Cultural risks—High: adopting ideas that incite violence (3.45), adopting atheistic ideas (3.72), spreading thought of hate (3.82), undermining values of the Saudi family (3.99); Moderate: adopting terrorist ideas (3.16), rejection of national identity (3.14). Behavioral risks—High: privacy hack (3.95), cyber-bullying (4.17), fraud (4.04), violence (3.58), social isolation (4.16), cybercrime (4.10); Moderate: suicide attempt (3.30), joining terrorist groups (3.00), drug addiction (3.16). - Likelihood of risks: Overall average mean likelihood=3.54 (High). High-likelihood items include: adopting ideas that incite violence (3.37), adopting atheistic ideas (3.52), spreading thought of hate (3.67), undermining values of the Saudi family (3.75), privacy hack (3.91), cyber-bullying (4.00), fraud (3.88), violence (3.53), social isolation (4.05), cybercrime (3.99). Moderate likelihood: adopting terrorist ideas (3.05), rejection of national identity (3.10), suicide attempt (3.19), joining terrorist groups (2.93), drug addiction (3.14). - Severity-likelihood matrix: 66.7% (10/15) of risks fall into high severity and high likelihood: (1) adopting ideas that incite violence, (3) adopting atheistic ideas, (4) spreading thought of hate, (5) undermining values of the Saudi family, (7) privacy hack, (8) cyber-bullying, (12) fraud, (13) violence, (14) social isolation, (15) cybercrime. The remaining 33.3% (2, 6, 9, 10, 11) show lower combined threat.

Findings indicate that Saudi families perceive substantial cultural and behavioral risks from virtual interactions, with especially high concern for platforms facilitating rapid, visual, and viral content (e.g., TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube). The high overall risk level and likelihood underscore threats to intellectual security (e.g., atheistic or violent ideation, hate propagation) and to family values, as well as behavioral harms (privacy breaches, cyber-bullying, fraud, violence, social isolation, cybercrime). These results align with prior studies linking social media use to psychological and behavioral problems and with regional work on extremist content and erosion of moral/family values. The platform-specific discussion highlights risks tied to ease of use, minimal publication constraints, monetization incentives, and youth accessibility, which together can amplify exposure to unsafe content and harmful behaviors. In the Saudi context of rapid modernization and high internet penetration, these manufactured risks (risk society) and fluid social ties (liquid modernity) directly challenge family security across relationships, values, and thought. The findings support the need for continuous monitoring and structured risk management to protect family well-being while acknowledging the ongoing benefits and inevitability of digital engagement.

The study concludes that cultural and behavioral risks from virtual interactions are both high in level and likelihood among Saudi families, with particular concern concentrated on platforms like TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat, and YouTube. Despite broad awareness of risks among family members, especially sons who are heavy users, awareness alone does not reduce likelihood of exposure. The authors recommend targeted interventions grounded in cognitive-behavioral principles to modify knowledge and behaviors for safer internet use, coupled with a social risk management (SRM) approach that delineates responsibilities across individuals, families, communities, and government. SRM should encompass prevention (reducing probability), mitigation (limiting impact), and coping (post-event support) strategies. The paper also calls for future research into why individuals may knowingly accept risks (e.g., addiction-related dynamics) and emphasizes the importance of distinguishing the control of risks from the unstoppable trajectory of technological progress and modernization. Although focused on Saudi families, the authors note the broader global relevance of virtual interaction risks across societies.