Parenting Perspective 

Digital belonging is one of the strongest social pressures children face today. When classmates or friends expect them to ‘like’, comment, or share something simply to fit in, it can feel like a small act, but to a child, it often determines whether they feel accepted or ignored. Begin by normalising this pressure: ‘It is okay to feel torn when your friends want you to like things you do not agree with. That happens to many people.’ Then, help your child separate kindness from compliance. Liking a post should never cost them their comfort, values, or integrity. 

Teach Emotional Awareness and Boundaries 

Ask your child what they fear might happen if they do not participate. Most children worry they will be excluded, teased, or labelled as ‘boring’. Reassure them that real friends care about character, not clicks. Help them recognise that emotional safety online begins with respecting their own boundaries. You could say, ‘Your approval means something, so give it only when it feels right to you.’ 

Equip Them with Respectful Responses 

Children need ready-made phrases that help them remain polite but firm. Teach them to use gentle, non-judgemental language. 

• ‘I did not see that one yet, perhaps later.’ 

• ‘I do not like to press ‘like’ on everything; I prefer to just read or watch.’ 

• ‘That post was not really my thing, but it is fine if you enjoyed it.’ 

These lines sound casual but effectively maintain their dignity. They allow your child to protect their boundary without sounding superior or dismissive of their friends. 

Model and Discuss Online Ethics 

Show your child that adults also scroll consciously. You might say, ‘Sometimes I skip liking things that do not match my values, not because I dislike the person, but because I choose what represents me.’ Encourage short family discussions about what is worth supporting online: truth, kindness, creativity, and positivity. Over time, this builds internal strength and the quiet confidence to choose sincerity over popularity. 

Foster Real-World Belonging 

Balance their online experiences with strong real-world friendships. Encourage group activities, sports, or volunteering, where inclusion is based on shared effort, not social media performance. When a child feels truly valued offline, they become less dependent on virtual approval. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, true belonging comes from being known by Allah Almighty for sincerity, not by people for approval. Helping your child see their worth through that lens builds a resilience that no peer group can shake. 

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

‘…And participate with each other to promote righteousness and piety, and do not collaborate in the committal of any sin or moral transgression; an attained piety from Allah (Almighty), as indeed, Allah (Almighty) is Meticulous in (the implementation of) His retribution.’ 

This verse teaches discernment, which is the courage to participate in goodness while stepping away from what harms faith, respect, or truth. Remind your child that pressing ‘like’ is not a neutral act; it can quietly endorse ideas that do not reflect who they are. Encourage them to pause for a breath and ask themselves, ‘Would I still like this if no one could see?’ 

It is recorded in Sunan Nisai, Hadith 5008, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith…’ 

Use this hadith to teach that both silence and sincerity can be acts of strength. Your child does not need to fight every wrong they see online, but choosing not to support what feels unkind or false is an act of integrity. Encourage them to use their digital presence for light by sharing reminders, kindness, or creativity, and to see every scroll as a moral choice. 

When your child learns that their value lies in righteousness, not recognition, peer pressure loses its grip. They will grow into digital citizens who choose truth even when it costs them approval, and that quiet courage, in the sight of Allah Almighty, is the truest form of inclusion.