What should I do when they edit a photo to tease someone and want to post it? 

Parenting Perspective 

When a child edits a photo to tease someone by adding filters, captions, or distortions, they often see it as ‘just a joke’. They may not realise how easily online humour can become humiliation. Your aim is to help them pause, consider the human impact of their actions, and learn to channel their digital creativity towards kindness rather than mockery. 

Begin With Calm Curiosity, Not Condemnation 

Start by asking, ‘What was it about this that you found funny?’ Understanding their intent, whether it was for inclusion, imitation, or even revenge, will help to shape your response. Stay calm and state the facts: ‘The moment we post a joke about someone’s image, it leaves our control. It can spread, cause hurt, and label you as someone who mocks others rather than respecting them.’ Children are more likely to listen when they feel understood before they are corrected. 

Help Them to See the Invisible Pain 

Guide your child to imagine the other person’s experience: ‘How would you feel if that photo was of you?’ Use gentle but clear language to make the point: ‘Laughter that is built on someone else’s discomfort is never harmless.’ If the image could cause genuine embarrassment or damage to someone’s reputation, help them to see that this crosses the line into bullying, even if it was unintentional. 

Teach the ‘Pause, Protect, Post’ Rule 

Offer them a simple, three-step filter to use before they share anything online. 

• Pause: Take a deep breath and ask, ‘Would I show this to the person if they were standing in front of me?’ 

• Protect: Consider whether the post protects the dignity of everyone involved or exposes someone to harm. 

• Post: Only share something if it adds goodness, learning, or joy, without causing hurt. 

Practise this process together by reviewing a few sample posts or memes to help the rule become instinctive. 

Guide a Repair If the Edit Has Been Shared 

If they have already posted the image, walk them through the process of repair. 

• Remove it immediately and, if necessary, post a public apology. 

• Privately apologise to the person involved, acknowledging the harm caused: ‘I posted something unkind about you. It was wrong. I have deleted it, and I am very sorry.’ 

• Reflect with them on what they found funny at the time and how they can use their humour differently in the future. 

Channel Their Creativity Positively 

Children who enjoy editing photos often have a great sense of humour and a flair for digital tools. Redirect this skill by challenging them to create uplifting edits, such as a gratitude collage for a friend, a highlights reel of a class event, or funny self-memes that do not harm anyone. Praising their positive creativity reduces the need for cruel humour to gain social status. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam calls on believers to protect others from all forms of harm, whether in word, deed, or image. Editing a photo to tease someone violates the trust and respect that we owe to one another. Teaching your child to show restraint in these moments helps to build ihsan—excellence in conduct that reflects both compassion and self-control. 

The Honour of Every Believer 

The Quran reminds us that mockery, in any form, lowers the one who mocks, not the one being mocked. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hujuraat (49), Verse 11: 

‘Those of you who are believers, do not let a nation ridicule another nation, as perhaps it may be that they are better than them…’ 

This verse teaches a profound lesson in humility. You can tell your child, ‘When you refuse to post that edited photo, you are living the guidance of this verse. You are honouring both yourself and the person in the image.’ In this way, their restraint becomes an act of worship, not a sign of weakness. 

Kind Humour and the Prophet’s ﷺExample 

The teachings of our Prophet ﷺ warn against using humour that is hurtful or based on deception. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 2315, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Woe to the one who speaks and lies to make people laugh woe to him, woe to him.’ 

This hadith shows that while the Prophet ﷺ enjoyed humour, it was never at anyone’s expense. You can invite your child to think: ‘Will my joke make someone else feel smaller, or will it make all of us kinder?’ 

Encourage them to whisper a small dua before they post: ‘O Allah, make my words and my edits a source of light, not of harm.’ Over time, this self-check will nurture a conscience that values hearts over likes.