Sync Conference
Confront the Digital Paradox: Register for Ithra’s digital well-being summit
Event asks participants whether we have the power and intent to create a new reality in which technology serves us rather than us serving it.
A world-leading conference on digital well-being will be held at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) later this month, with the public invited to attend the event.
The Sync Digital Well-being Summit 2024, scheduled for May 22 and 23, will feature high-profile speakers from a wide range of industries, including business, social media, and sports. Announcements in the coming days will reveal some of the major names set to take part in the two-day program.
The theme of this year’s event is “Confronting the Digital Paradox,” where both speakers and guests will be asked whether we have both the power and intention to create a new reality in which the future of technology serves us, rather than us serving it.
Sync
Sync, Ithra’s digital well-being initiative, is sponsoring the conference. The group “aims to empower individuals to promote their digital well-being through awareness campaigns, tools, experiences, and education programs,” according to Wadha A. Nafjan, head of digital well-being at Ithra.
The initiative bridges research findings with practical solutions, envisioning a future in which people navigate the digital world with mindfulness and balance.
— Wadha A. Nafjan
Summit
The summit will feature several areas for attendees, including the main stage (which will host keynote presentations), panels, fireside chats, specialist presentations, initiative and policy announcements, and opening and closing ceremonies.
A Sync Expo area will showcase the achievements, products, and research of Ithra’s digital well-being initiative, and there will also be immersive experiences for guests to learn more about some of the key issues being discussed at the summit.
How to register
To attend the Sync Digital Well-being Summit 2024, complete the registration form at https://syncsummit2024.ithra.com.
Day 1 of the conference, under the theme “Cuts Both Ways: Wrestling with the Tensions of the Digital Era,” will open with a keynote speech by a special guest, followed by conversations on topics including misinformation, well-being, AI, and digital harmony.
The second day’s theme is “A Digital Renaissance: Shaping Our Relationship with Digital for a Better Future,” with sessions focusing on such subjects as gaming, the unifying power of technology, and global digital citizenship.
Global DWI: First of its kind
Ahead of the summit, a first-of-its-kind international study, The Global Digital Wellbeing Index (DWI), has been carried out which examines how different countries are maximizing the opportunities offered by digital technology while enhancing individual and collective well-being. Some 35,000 people from 35 countries were questioned for the study.
The DWI assessment ranks the selected countries based on 94 selected indicators derived from policy analysis, statistical data, and survey results across 12 pillars.
“This first-of-its kind index represents a much-needed tool for framing discussions on the merits and demerits of our rapidly expanding digital ecosystems,” Nafjan said. “Additionally, the DWI provides benchmarks against which governments can better gauge the population level impacts of current and emerging technologies.
We hope the DWI will inform and inspire policymakers to measure, safeguard, and further enhance the digital well-being of the populations they serve.
— Wadha A. Nafjan
People attending the conference will be able to take the survey and see how they compare to the scores from the 35 different countries.