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The second and final day of Qatar Foundation’s BilAraby Summit featured a number of talks that discussed the Arabic language’s representation in the digital spaces, including the emergence of new methods for using the language on social media, and the influx of foreign words. These sessions were held by a number of Qatar Foundation (QF) entities, including QatarDebate, Qatar Foundation International (QFI), and the BilAraby Summit.
The session by QatarDebate sparked a conversation by posing the question – Has social media negatively impacted the use of Arabic in communication and correspondence? Or is it merely an influencing factor like other factors?
Participants had differing views on the issue, noting new uses of Arabic and changing how it's used on digital platforms.
Safia Al-Hamad, a student at Qatar University, expressed her concern about the profound impact of social media on the Arabic language. She said: “Because of social media, we have been exposed to words that have no Arabic equivalent and we’ve adopted them.”She added: “Social media has become our means of communication, even in our daily lives. Those who do not master this language seem isolated from the world.”
Her fellow student, Sarah Al-Naama, echoed this view stating, “Even if it seems like the choice is ours, programming and prevailing trends have guided our interactions from the beginning.”
On the other hand Noura Al-Dosari, representing the opposing view point, argued that the issue lies not with the platforms themselves, but with how weuse them, saying: “Social media platforms offer digital content in all languages, and algorithms track user choices. Therefore, the choice is ours in how we consume and how we allow it to influence us and not the apps themselves.”
But the question remains: How can we protect the Arabic language and identity from extinction? A language dies when we stop speaking it, so how do we ensure we continue we speak it.
Anwar Fathallah, a doctor and consultant, offered a potential answer to this question during a session titled “Translating BilAraby Contents: A Bridge for Global Connection.” He highlighted the importance of the “Open Translation Project,” which aims to translate BilAraby’s content into other languages.
“The project aims to make BilAraby talks available to a global audience by translating them from Arabic into multiple languages, sharing knowledge freely, and supporting the digital expansion of the Arabic language,” he said.
He added that the project also seeks to achieve global recognition of the Arab identity and create societal impact by sharing inspiring ideas with speakers of other languages.
During the session, Dr. Fathallah called on Arab youth to volunteer for the initiative and help spread Arabic ideas globally, emphasizing that such contributions enrich Arabic content and promote cultural dialogue between Arabic speakers and non-native speakers.
“As of March 2025, approximately 2,450 translators have contributed to spreading the Arabic language around the world,” he said. “Together they have published 14,509 Arabic conversations, making Arabic the third most translated language globally.”
In another session hosted by QFI titled “Promoting Hope and Driving Change,” a research initiative called Salama was highlighted. The project explores the power of imagery in capturing adolescents' thoughts and experiences
Ali Mohammed Ali, a research advisor at QFI, explained that this initiative aims to better understand adolescent refugees from the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). It examines the psychological and social aspects of their lives in their new environments in the United States, and the impact of displacement and resettlement on their mental health.
The study also explored thow displacement affects their daily lives, behaviors, and interactions with their communities. It analyzed their psychological and social well-being and how these were shaped by adaptation to unfamiliar cultural contexts. Notably, the use of imagery was shown to stimulate deeper conversation abouts about identity, language, and life in the United States.
Ali concluded that the program remains relevant across the broader QF ecosystem, particularly within Education City , due to the diverse nationalities represented in its student community.
For more information about BilAraby, a QF initiative, please visit: https://bilaraby.qa/en/summit
