What is the best way to guide siblings if one shares inappropriate content with the other at home? 

Parenting Perspective 

It can be alarming for parents to discover that one of their children has shared inappropriate online content with a sibling. The instinct may be to react with anger or to assign blame, but this risks pushing both children into secrecy. A calmer, more thoughtful approach is needed, one that addresses the issue seriously while turning it into a lesson on responsibility and protecting one another. 

Recognise the Sensitivity of the Situation 

It is important to recognise that children often share content out of simple curiosity, peer influence, or a lack of understanding about boundaries, rather than a malicious intent. Approaching the situation with calm seriousness helps to address the gravity of the matter without shaming or frightening either child. 

Address the Child Who Shared the Content 

It is important to speak to the child who shared the content privately. Explain clearly and calmly why the material is harmful, clarifying how it can distort a person’s values or encourage disrespectful behaviour. Help them to understand that sharing it with a sibling is a serious matter, as it involves influencing another person’s innocence. The goal here is education, not humiliation, showing them that their actions carry a significant responsibility. 

Support the Child Who Received the Content 

Reassure the other child that it was not their fault they were exposed to something inappropriate. Encourage them to share openly with you whenever they encounter content in the future that makes them feel uncomfortable. This builds a crucial habit of turning to parents for guidance rather than hiding things or exploring them further in silence. 

Rebuild Trust and Set Clear Rules 

Once you have guided both siblings individually, you can bring them together to re-establish a sense of trust and safety. Set clear and simple rules about what is and is not acceptable to share in your home, and explain the reasons behind these boundaries. Redirecting them towards positive sibling interactions, such as playing a game or working on a project together, can also help to strengthen their bond in a healthy way. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that we are protectors of one another, especially within the family. Sharing harmful content is a breach of this trust, as it can pollute the purity of another person’s heart. By addressing this with mercy and wisdom, parents can turn a serious mistake into a powerful lesson on mutual responsibility. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Noor (24), Verses 30: 

‘ Say (O Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) to the believing men to lower their gaze (upon forbidden things); and protect their private parts (with chastity); these actions shall help them (attain) piety; indeed, Allah (Almighty is All Cognisant of all of their actions.‘ 

This verse is a reminder that protecting our own eyes and hearts from indecency is a direct command from Allah. It is the foundation for safeguarding the purity of our families and communities. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2674, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Whoever guides someone to sin will bear a burden of it like the one who committed it.’ 

This is a sobering teaching that clarifies the immense responsibility we have. It shows that influencing others towards wrongdoing, even if it seems like a small or unintentional act, carries a heavy weight in the sight of Allah. 

By guiding your children with these principles, you can turn a mistake into a lesson that strengthens their awareness of their responsibilities to one another. This helps them to understand that every action has consequences, and it nurtures within them the compassion needed to protect each other’s faith and well-being.