Parenting Perspective 

When children begin to copy influencers who display fake or exaggerated lifestyles, it can distort their sense of reality and damage their self-worth. Influencers often present only the carefully curated highlights of their lives, such as filtered images, luxury possessions, and constant fun, while leaving out their real-life struggles, ordinary routines, and hardships. Children, who are still learning to separate image from truth, may take these portrayals at face value and try to imitate them. 

Unrealistic Standards and Dissatisfaction 

Children may begin to believe that looking perfect, owning expensive items, or living an extravagant lifestyle is the normal standard for happiness and success. When their own life does not measure up to this impossible ideal, they may feel inadequate, which can lead to feelings of frustration, jealousy, and lowered self-esteem. 

The Loss of an Authentic Identity 

Instead of exploring their own unique interests and developing their own personality, children may begin to simply mimic the trends, poses, or habits of the influencers they see online. 

• This can delay the process of healthy self-discovery, as they may become more concerned with how other people see them than with who they truly are. 

Harm to Behaviour and Relationships 

Some online influencers may normalise wasteful spending, risky behaviour, or a disrespectful sense of humour. Children who copy such habits can create conflict at home and may find that it negatively affects how they interact with their peers, teachers, and other relatives. 

Supporting Children Against Negative Influence 

Parents can help to protect their children from this kind of influence by: 

• Teaching them media literacy, which involves explaining in age-appropriate ways that much of what they see online has been staged or edited. 

• Encouraging them to look up to real-life role models, such as respected community figures, scholars, or relatives who embody genuine and wholesome values. 

• Praising their authenticity and the effort they make, rather than their appearance or their imitation of the latest trends. 

By grounding children in reality, parents can help them to see that their true worth does not depend on copying the false and manufactured lifestyles they see online. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam warns us against deception, showing off, and chasing after worldly appearances. The fake portrayals of life that are so common on social media mirror these dangers, which makes it all the more important for parents to guide their children back towards the timeless values of sincerity and contentment. 

The Quranic Warning Against Deception 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hadeed (57), Verses 20: 

‘Note that indeed, the life of this world is only: a drama; and amusement; and ostentatious; and superficial bragging between yourselves; and unbridled desire for capitalism and offspring…’ 

This verse reminds us that chasing after false images of success and joy is an illusion that can distract a person from their true purpose in life. 

The Prophetic Condemnation of Pretence 

It is recorded in Sunan Nisai, Hadith 5021, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘There are four signs of the hypocrite, and whoever has them is a pure hypocrite. And whoever has one of them, has a characteristic of hypocrisy until he gives it up: When he is trusted, he betrays; when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a covenant, he is treacherous; and when he disputes, he behaves immorally.’ 

This Hadith teaches us that dishonesty and pretence are qualities that we must avoid, reminding us that fake and boastful lifestyles can reflect traits that harm a person’s faith and integrity. 

When parents teach their children that true dignity comes from honesty, modesty, and gratitude, they are helping to protect them from the desire to copy the shallow lifestyles they see online. This nurtures a sense of resilience in the child, helping them to measure their happiness not by fake displays of wealth or status, but by their closeness to Allah Almighty and their own authentic self-worth.