When a Child Compares Their Life to an Influencer’s ‘Highlight Reel’ 

Parenting Perspective 

When a child starts measuring their own life against the curated ‘highlight reels’ of online influencers, it is a recipe for discontentment. They are comparing their everyday reality with a highly produced fantasy, which can naturally lead to feelings of envy and frustration. As a parent, you can play a vital role in teaching them to see the distortion and cultivate a more grateful and realistic outlook. 

Acknowledge Their Feelings Without Mockery 

Dismissing their fascination with a blunt ‘That is all fake’ can feel invalidating. Instead, start with empathy: ‘I can see why that looks like such an exciting life. It is important to remember, though, that we are only ever seeing the best moments they choose to share’. This approach validates their feeling while introducing a critical perspective. 

Teach Media Literacy 

Help them become a more critical consumer of online content. Explain that being an influencer is a job, and that their content is a product designed to sell a lifestyle. Talk about things like sponsorships, editing, and staging, and discuss how the messy, boring, or difficult parts of life are almost always left out. This knowledge empowers them to see beyond the illusion. 

Highlight Real-Life Gratitude 

Actively shift their focus from what others have to what they have. Make gratitude a regular family practice, such as sharing three things you are thankful for at the dinner table. Consistently highlighting the blessings of family, health, friendship, and personal talents rewires their brain to focus on abundance rather than lack. 

Encourage Real-World Role Models 

Gently redirect their admiration towards real-world role models. Talk about the qualities you admire in people you both know, such as a grandparent’s resilience, a teacher’s kindness, or a friend’s dedication. This helps to ground their aspirations in authentic, attainable human qualities rather than in a manufactured online image. 

Through a combination of empathy and media education, parents can equip their child to break free from the cycle of comparison. This guidance helps them learn to appreciate the unique value and blessings of their own lived reality. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam offers a powerful antidote to the poison of comparison. It teaches that constantly looking at what others have is a path to ingratitude, whereas true peace is found only in rida a state of deep contentment with what Allah has decreed. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah An Nahl (16), Verse 71: 

‘And Allah has favoured some of you over others in provision. But those who were given more would not hand over their provision to those whom their right hands possess so they would be equal to them. Then is it the favour of Allah they deny?…’ 

This verse reminds us that differences in provision are part of Allah’s divine plan and wisdom. To look at what others have been given while ignoring or denying our own blessings is a form of ingratitude that leads to misery. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2963, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Look at those who are below you, and do not look at those above you, for this is more likely to prevent you from belittling the favour of Allah.’ 

This simple yet profound prophetic instruction provides a practical tool for cultivating gratitude. By consciously directing our gaze towards those with less, we protect our hearts from arrogance and ingratitude, and we learn to truly appreciate the favours of Allah. 

By sharing this timeless wisdom, parents can arm their children against the spiritual dangers of comparison. They learn that their value lies not in what they possess, but in their character and gratitude. This perspective nurtures a heart that is content, confident, and protected from envy.