How can we explain to children that not all online content is truthful or healthy, even if it is popular? 

Parenting Perspective 

In the online world, popularity can often be mistaken for credibility. Teaching children to think critically about the content they consume is an essential skill for navigating the digital landscape safely and wisely. 

Use Relatable Offline Examples 

Use a simple analogy from their own world. Explain that just as a rumour can spread quickly around the playground even if it is not true, online content can become popular without being accurate. This helps them to understand that popularity does not guarantee truth. 

Teach the Difference Between Entertainment and Reality 

Help them to understand that much of what they see online is created for entertainment or to get clicks, not necessarily to be helpful. Encourage them to ask themselves, ‘Is this video trying to teach me something useful, or just trying to get a reaction?’ This builds their media literacy skills. 

Encourage Critical Thinking 

Give them simple tools for critical thinking. Encourage them to ask, ‘Who made this and why?’ You can also show them how to check information from another reliable source. This teaches them to be active questioners, not passive consumers. 

Discuss the Impact on Well-Being 

Talk about how some popular content can encourage unhealthy ideas or unsafe behaviours. Guide them to think about how content makes them feel, and to choose things that uplift their mind and character. 

These conversations equip them to be thoughtful and discerning consumers of online media. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam places a strong emphasis on seeking truth, verifying information, and avoiding that which is harmful or of no benefit. These principles are vital for navigating the modern world of information. 

Verifying Before Accepting 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hujurat (49), Verse 6: 

‘O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate…’ 

This reminds us of our responsibility to verify what we see and hear before accepting or sharing it, a crucial skill in an age of misinformation. 

Choosing What Benefits 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3976, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Part of the perfection of a person’s Islam is his leaving that which does not concern him.’ 

This teaches us to be selective with our attention, avoiding content that is false, harmful, or of no benefit to our worldly or spiritual lives, regardless of how popular it may be. 

By applying these Islamic principles, we teach our children to be mindful consumers of information, choosing content that aligns with their faith and protects their well-being.