How do I teach a child to pause before forwarding “funny” content about real people? 

Parenting Perspective 

Children often come across memes, jokes, or edited photos of their classmates, teachers, or even family members, and in the moment, they may feel a social pressure to forward them quickly. They might see it as ‘just a joke’ without considering the real impact it could have on the person involved. What starts as a harmless laugh can easily turn into widespread embarrassment, gossip, or even bullying once it spreads. The key skill to teach your child is to build a deliberate pause into their digital habits, giving them a moment to think about respect, dignity, and consequences before they hit ‘forward.’ 

Explain the ‘Ripple Effect’ of Forwarding Content 

Start by helping your child understand the unique nature of online sharing. You could say: ‘When you forward something about a real person, you are not just sharing a private joke. You are multiplying the number of people who see it, and that can magnify the harm.’ Use a simple example, such as how a private picture turned into a meme can reach people the person never intended, causing long-term hurt. 

Teach a Simple ‘Pause-and-Check’ Rule 

Coach your child to run through a quick, three-question mental checklist before they forward any content involving another person. 

• Would I want this to be shared if it was a picture of me? 

• Does this post protect the other person’s dignity? 

• Would I be comfortable if my parents or a teacher saw me forward this? 

If the answer to any of these questions is ‘no,’ then the rule is to pause and not forward the content. 

Provide Scripts for Politely Declining to Forward 

Children often need the exact words to resist peer pressure without sounding preachy or confrontational. 

• ‘It does not feel fair to share that, so let us just leave it.’ 

• ‘I do not really want to spread things about other people.’ 

• ‘I will laugh at it here, but I am not going to send it on.’ 

These phrases are firm enough to set a boundary, yet casual enough to protect both dignity and friendships. 

Offer Positive Alternatives 

Suggest that your child can still be a source of fun in their group chats by forwarding light-hearted content that does not involve real people. Funny videos of animals, cartoons, riddles, or other harmless memes allow them to enjoy humour without risking harm to someone’s reputation. 

Spiritual Insight 

Respecting the Honour of Others 

The noble Quran clearly warns against exposing the faults of others or ridiculing them in any way. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hujuraat (49), Verses 12: 

‘…And do not spy (on each other) and do not let some of you backbite against others; would one of you like to eat the meat of his mortally expired brother? Not at all – you would find it repulsive; and so seek piety from Allah (Almighty), indeed, Allah (Almighty) is the Greatest Exonerator and the Most Merciful.’ 

This powerful verse shows that forwarding content that embarrasses another person can easily fall into the category of backbiting, which is a major sin. Teaching a child to pause before they forward something is a practical way of helping them to protect another person’s honour. 

The Prophet’s ﷺGuidance on Protecting Others from Harm 

The holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ consistently emphasised that a true believer is one who is a source of safety for others, not a source of harm. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, 41, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe.’ 

You can link this hadith directly to your child’s digital habits: ‘When you choose not to forward a “funny” but hurtful post about someone, you are making sure that your tongue and your hand or in today’s world, your phone are safe for other people, just as the Prophet ﷺ taught.’ 

By tying the digital habit of pausing to the timeless principles of the Quran and Sunnah, children learn that protecting another person’s dignity is a profound act of faith.