What should parents do if their child feels jealous when a friend goes viral but they do not? 

Parenting Perspective 

When a child sees their friend go viral online, it can easily trigger feelings of jealousy, making them feel unnoticed or less important in comparison. In the digital world, metrics like likes, shares, and views are often mistaken for genuine success. It is important for parents not to dismiss their child’s feelings of jealousy as silly, but to instead help them to process this emotion and guide them towards a healthier perspective on recognition and self-worth. 

Validate the Feeling Without Fuelling It 

Start by acknowledging their feelings without judgement: ‘I can understand why it might hurt to see your friend getting so much attention when you are not. It is normal to feel a bit left out in a situation like that.’ Validation prevents resentment from building up inside them and shows that you are taking their emotions seriously. 

Teach the Difference Between Popularity and Value 

Gently explain that a viral moment online is often based on unpredictable factors like luck, timing, or algorithms, and is not a true measure of a person’s talent, value, or the respect they command. You can contrast this fleeting attention with real-life achievements that reflect genuine effort and character. 

Redirect Their Focus to Effort and Growth 

Encourage your child to shift their focus away from chasing numbers and towards improving their own skills, nurturing their creativity, or working on meaningful projects that they genuinely enjoy. Make a point of celebrating their progress and hard work at home, reinforcing the idea that effort is more important than instant popularity. 

Strengthen Self-Worth Outside the Digital World 

Involve your child in activities where they can find success and appreciation in the real world. This could include sports, hobbies, volunteering, or family projects. These experiences help to build authentic confidence that is not dependent on the unpredictable nature of online approval. 

By combining empathy with a shift in perspective, parents can help their children to understand that while viral fame is temporary and fleeting, their own personal growth and real-life relationships are what provide true and lasting value. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that envy (hasad) is a destructive emotion that eats away at a person’s good deeds, while contentment (qana’ah) is a virtue that brings peace to the heart. Parents can use this as an opportunity to remind their children that true, lasting honour is granted by Allah Almighty, not by fleeting numbers on a screen. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Nahal (16), Verses 97: 

‘ Whoever undertakes virtuous actions – whether a male or female – and is of Muslim faith; We (Allah Almighty) shall surely sustain him with a life of purity; and We shall certainly reward them with recompense which befits the best of their actions.‘ 

This verse reminds us that the real and lasting reward from Allah comes as a result of our righteous actions and sincere faith, not from any form of digital recognition or fame. 

It is recorded in Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 4903, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Beware of envy, for indeed envy consumes good deeds just as fire consumes firewood.’ 

This powerful warning teaches us that feeling jealous over the success of others is an act that ultimately harms our own soul and diminishes our good deeds. 

By grounding the feeling of jealousy in the broader perspective of faith, parents can guide their child to replace envy with a sense of gratitude for their own blessings and a renewed focus on their own efforts. Over time, they can learn that the most valuable form of ‘going viral’ is to have their good deeds accepted by Allah Almighty, which is a success far greater and more lasting than any online fame.