The Court of Appeals presided over by Judge Dr. Khaled Al-Mandeel ruled that the mother had failed in her custodial responsibilities by involving the children in promotional social media content while neglecting their educational needs. Evidence presented showed a clear decline in the children’s school results linked to the time spent on these activities and lack of proper supervision. The decision transfers custody to the father while preserving the mother’s parental authority and requiring ongoing cooperation between the parents on all matters concerning the children’s upbringing. According to the ruling the intensity of the advertising combined with poor academic outcomes crossed the threshold for judicial intervention.
The court explicitly stated that custody does not terminate parental authority and that the father will now hold the primary educational role. It added that both parents must work together to support the children’s welfare following the change. The judgment drew directly from provisions in Child Rights Law No. 21 of 2015 which prioritizes the best interests of the child in all decisions. A government publication of the law confirms it guarantees every child protection from moral or physical harm and ensures access to education as a fundamental right.
Attorney Houra Al-Habib director of the Child Center at the Kuwaiti Lawyers Association described the ruling as one that places the children’s best interest above all else. She noted that custody constitutes a responsibility rather than a privilege and that actions harming a child’s development require court action under the 2015 statute. Al-Habib emphasized that the law permits intervention when parental conduct such as unchecked commercial exploitation affects academic performance. The attorney’s assessment aligns with the court’s finding that simple appearances in advertisements do not automatically qualify as exploitation but become problematic when paired with neglect and measurable harm.
A 2022 study on social media use among Kuwaiti teenagers published by researchers affiliated with Kuwait University found significant negative correlations between heavy platform engagement and academic outcomes including reduced focus and lower grades. The research examined participants aged 13 to 19 and highlighted how entertainment-focused activities often displace study time. Similar patterns appear in broader GCC analyses where commercial exposure of minors online has raised concerns about developmental impacts. Official education data from the Ministry of Education has previously flagged rising cases of distraction linked to digital content creation.
Law No. 21 of 2015 as detailed in publications from the National Supreme Council for Family Affairs establishes comprehensive protections covering a child’s right to development within a stable family environment free from exploitation. The legislation aligns Kuwaiti standards with international child rights principles by requiring custodians to safeguard education and well-being. Government summaries of the law stress that educational guardianship falls to the custodian whether father or mother in line with personal status regulations. This framework supported the court’s determination that the mother’s conduct warranted a custody shift to better serve the children’s needs.
The ruling underscores that parental cooperation remains mandatory even after custody changes with the father now responsible for directing educational matters. Both parties retain rights to participate in key decisions affecting the minors according to the court document. The decision arrives amid growing regional attention to children’s online privacy and commercial use with several GCC states updating related guidelines in recent years. Kuwaiti court records indicate such cases often hinge on documented effects on the child’s schooling and overall welfare.
