What should parents do if their child is dared by peers to record or share risky videos on TikTok or Snapchat? 

Parenting Perspective 

Peer pressure to post risky or inappropriate videos on platforms like TikTok and Snapchat can place children in extremely vulnerable situations. The intense fear of losing friends or being mocked can tempt them to participate in these dares, even when they feel deeply uncomfortable. It is crucial for parents to address this issue with a combination of empathy and firmness, teaching their children how to resist peer pressure while protecting both their dignity and their safety. 

Start With Empathy, Not Blame 

If your child tells you they are facing this kind of pressure, it is vital to avoid reacting with anger or disappointment. Instead, validate their struggle by saying: ‘I know it is hard when friends pressure you to do something you are not sure about. It takes a lot of courage to even talk about it.’ This helps them to feel supported rather than ashamed, which is the first step to finding a solution. 

Teach Them to Say ‘No’ With Confidence 

Equip your child with practical tools to resist. Help them by role-playing simple, direct responses they can use, such as: ‘I am not comfortable doing that,’ or ‘I would rather not post something that could cause problems for me later.’ Practising these phrases in a safe environment helps to build the confidence they need to handle pressure in the moment. 

Explain the Lasting Consequences 

Gently but clearly remind your child that anything posted online can never be truly deleted. A video that seems like a harmless joke today could resurface months or years later, potentially damaging their reputation, their self-respect, or even their future opportunities. Help them to see that their dignity is worth more than a moment of fleeting popularity. 

Offer Safer Ways to Belong 

Encourage and help facilitate ways for your child to bond with their friends through harmless, positive, and creative activities that do not put them at risk. This could be anything from a fun group project to a sports challenge. This allows them to maintain their social connections without compromising values. 

By combining empathy with practical tools and clear boundaries, parents can empower their children to resist dangerous dares and stay safe, without feeling as though they have been cut off from their peers. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that our dignity, safety, and modesty are precious treasures that should never be gambled away for the sake of temporary social approval. Giving in to peer pressure to perform risky or inappropriate actions is a way of harming oneself and prioritising the pleasure of people over the pleasure of Allah Almighty. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Israa (17), Verses 70: 

‘ Indeed, We (Allah Almighty) have honoured the descendants of Adam; and fostered them over the land and the sea; and provided sustenance for them with purified nourishment; and We gave them preferential treatment over many of those (species) We have created with special privileges.‘ 

This verse is a powerful reminder that every human being has been granted honour and dignity by Allah Himself. That honour should never be traded for the sake of a fleeting trend or the amusement of others. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 2414, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Whoever seeks Allah’s pleasure at the expense of people’s anger, Allah will suffice him against the people. And whoever seeks people’s pleasure at the expense of Allah’s anger, Allah will leave him to the people.’ 

This profound teaching clarifies where our priorities should lie. It teaches that true courage and success are found in choosing to please Allah, even if it means displeasing people. 

By grounding this difficult conversation in the Islamic principles of honour and accountability, parents can help their children to understand that resisting a dangerous dare is not an act of weakness, but one of great strength, self-respect, and faith. Over time, this helps them to learn that their true worth is measured by their dignity before Allah, not by the fleeting attention they might receive from a risky video.