Social Protection Mechanisms for the Saudi Family Against the Risks of Digital Transformation" A Field Study Applied to a Sample of Saudi Families in the Riyadh Region"

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the social protection mechanisms available to Saudi families against the risks of digital transformation. It focused on five main mechanisms: advocacy, empowerment, support, social assistance, and digital awareness. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach and employed the social survey method by sample, which is suitable for descriptive research, and was applied to a random sample of 646 Saudi families in the Riyadh region. The results revealed that all mechanisms examined were rated at high levels. The advocacy mechanism achieved a mean score of 2.71 and was reflected in firmly confronting issues of online harassment, institutional efforts to combat cybercrime, and media engagement with online fraud issues. The empowerment mechanism scored a mean of 2.88, represented by enabling families to access information about the risks of digital transformation, supporting them in claiming their rights, and enhancing their ability to express their opinions. The support mechanism recorded a mean of 2.96 through providing social rehabilitation programs, legal support, and improving family quality of life. The social assistance mechanism achieved the highest mean of 2.97 and was evident in offering legal, emotional, and informational support to families affected by digital risks. Finally, the digital awareness mechanism scored a mean of 2.88 by raising families’ awareness of the causes of involvement in cybercrimes, promoting their knowledge of dealing with financial blackmail, and guiding them to avoid downloading programs from unknown sources.