What should I do when my child laughs at cruel content online? 

Parenting Perspective 

It can be distressing to see your child laugh at something cruel they have seen on social media. You might wonder if this means they lack empathy or are becoming desensitised to the pain of others. Before you react with alarm, however, it is important to pause and recognise what may be happening. Children often laugh not because they support cruelty, but because they are trying to make sense of it, or to fit into an online culture where mockery has been normalised. 

Understanding the Laughter 

Online spaces often thrive on immediate reactions. Cruel memes, embarrassing videos, and ‘fail’ compilations are designed to provoke a response. When your child laughs, they are often imitating what they see others do. It is less about genuine malice and more about a desire to belong. Understanding this allows you to approach the situation with calm curiosity instead of confrontation. 

You can ask open questions, such as, ‘What made that video funny to you?’ or, ‘Do you think the person in it would laugh too?’ These questions encourage reflection rather than defensiveness. A child who is guided to think about the feelings behind an image or a clip will begin to develop emotional maturity. 

Naming the Problem Without Condemnation 

It is best to avoid saying, ‘That is cruel; how could you laugh at that?’ as this can shut down the dialogue. Instead, use language that separates the act from your child’s worth: ‘Sometimes things online can seem funny, but they can also hurt someone deeply. Let us talk about how we can tell the difference.’ When you frame the conversation as an exploration rather than an accusation, you help your child to examine their online values with honesty. 

Teaching Digital Empathy 

Explain to your child that everything they see online involves real people. Even when a video is old or has been edited, a person’s dignity may have been compromised for the sake of entertainment. You might ask, ‘If that person were your friend or your sibling, how would you feel watching others laugh at them?’ 

Encourage your child to imagine being the subject of the clip. This shift from amusement to empathy is crucial, as it transforms them from being a passive consumer of content into a conscious and aware participant. 

Developing Digital Discernment 

Children need practical strategies to help them navigate social media responsibly. 

• Pause before reacting: Teach them to stop and ask themselves, ‘Would this still be funny if the person in the video could see me laughing?’ 

• Curate their feed: Encourage them to follow accounts that promote creativity, kindness, or humour that does not rely on cruelty. 

• Discuss peer pressure: Ask them how they feel when everyone else is laughing at something they find uncomfortable. Reassure them that walking away or choosing not to share is an act of bravery, not a social failure. 

Setting the Family Tone 

What children see at home helps to shape their digital ethics. Avoid sharing or laughing at content that mocks others, even in a subtle way. Let your child see you scroll with discernment, perhaps pausing to say, ‘That does not sit right with me.’ This kind of modelling speaks louder than instruction. 

When you respond to their laughter with steady empathy, you are showing them that your goal is their growth, not their guilt. Over time, they will learn to link their compassion with their integrity, even in digital spaces that often reward insensitivity. 

Spiritual Insight 

The internet can magnify voices, both kind and cruel. As Muslims, we are taught that every click, comment, and reaction carries a moral weight. When your child laughs at cruelty, it is a chance to teach them about the ethics of digital witnessing: that even our passive reactions can either affirm or deny an injustice. 

Guarding the Heart from Cruel Humour 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Noor (24), Verse 19: 

‘Indeed, those people that like to propagate (false accusations of) immorality against those people who are believers; for them is a dreadful punishment in the worldly life and in the Hereafter; and Allah (Almighty) is fully aware, and you do not know it.’ 

This reminds us that taking pleasure in the harm or humiliation of others, even silently, is an act that corrupts the heart. When parents guide their children to reject cruel humour, they are helping to protect their fitrah, the pure moral nature that Allah Almighty has placed within every soul. 

The Prophetic Example of Protecting Dignity 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 2546, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Whoever conceals (the fault of) a Muslim, Allah will conceal his fault in this world and in the Hereafter.’ 

This hadith teaches us that honouring the dignity of others is an act of worship. Sharing, liking, or laughing at another person’s embarrassment goes against the prophetic way, which calls us to shield others, not to expose them. A child who internalises this lesson will come to understand that true humour is both pure and merciful. 

Guiding your child in this area requires patience and conversation, not control. Instead of banning content outright, it is better to teach discernment, helping them to recognise when laughter has crossed the line from joy into cruelty. 

When you help your child to understand that every view, like, and laugh has a weight before Allah Almighty, you awaken their sense of moral responsibility. They can then begin to see online spaces not as mere arenas for entertainment, but as platforms where they have the choice to stand for righteousness over ridicule. 

Their laughter can gradually change from echoing the world’s cruelty to reflecting the light of compassion. Through your gentle, faith-centred guidance, you will be nurturing not only their digital wisdom but also a heart that honours the sanctity of every soul.