How can parents help teenagers who feel mocked for not joining in on popular dares or challenges? 

Parenting Perspective 

Teenagers who make the brave choice to refuse to participate in online dares or challenges can often face mockery from their peers. Being labelled as ‘boring’ or ‘too strict’ can sting, hurting their confidence and causing them to question their decision. Parents play a vital role in this situation, helping their child to understand that saying no to a harmful trend is not a weakness, but is in fact a profound sign of maturity and courage. 

Acknowledge Their Hurt 

Begin by offering empathy and acknowledging their pain: ‘I know it must be very difficult when other people laugh at you for not joining in. It takes an incredible amount of strength to say no when it seems like everyone else is saying yes.’ This approach validates their feelings and shows them that you understand the social pressure they are facing, which makes them more open to your guidance. 

Reframe Resistance as Courage 

Help your teenager to redefine their choice not as an act of fear, but as one of courage. You can remind them: ‘Anyone can blindly follow the crowd, but it takes real strength and character to choose what is right, even if others mock you for it.’ This helps them to see their own decision as a brave one, not as a social loss. 

Share Alternative Ways to Belong 

Encourage your teenager to connect with their friends through positive, shared activities, such as sports, study groups, creative projects, or safe, fun challenges. Remind them that a sense of belonging does not require compromising values; it is about finding the right people and the right spaces to express oneself in a healthy way. 

Praise Their Integrity at Home 

Make a point of celebrating their decision to resist negative peer pressure. When a child feels genuinely seen and appreciated at home for their good character, the sting of any mockery they face outside of the home begins to lessen. Knowing that their family admires their courage strengthens resilience in a powerful way. 

By combining empathy with sincere affirmation, parents can help their teenager to transform feelings of social exclusion into a sense of pride for making wise and courageous choices. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches us to honour those who resist harmful social trends. It is a consistent reminder for believers that standing apart from the crowd for the sake of holding onto the truth is a source of great blessing, not a burden. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Maaidah (5), Verses 2: 

‘…And participate with each other to promote righteousness and piety, and do not collaborate in the committal of any sin or moral transgression…’ 

This verse provides a clear and unambiguous command. It reminds us that refusing to participate in harmful or sinful actions, such as risky online dares, is a direct act of obedience to Allah. 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3986, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Islam began as something strange and will return to being strange as it began, so glad tidings to the strangers.’ 

This beautiful hadith reframes the experience of feeling ‘strange’ or ‘different’ for upholding one’s faith. It teaches us that this feeling is not a sign of being wrong, but is in fact a mark of honour that brings with it the promise of glad tidings from Allah Himself. 

By grounding their resistance in these faith principles, parents can show their teenagers that being mocked by peers for doing the right thing is not a source of shame. Instead, it can be seen as a mark of true strength and a sign of Allah’s pleasure. Over time, this helps them to learn that their dignity lies in standing firm upon their values, not in blending into every harmful trend.