What should parents do if siblings lose trust in each other after one exposed the other to harmful content? 

Parenting Perspective 

When one sibling exposes another to harmful or inappropriate online content, it can cause a deep and painful breach of trust. The child who was exposed may feel their innocence has been violated, while the one who shared it may feel ashamed or defensive. Parents must approach this situation with great sensitivity, focusing first on healing the emotional damage before moving on to discipline. 

Acknowledge the Breach of Trust 

It is important to begin by acknowledging the hurt that has occurred on both sides, rather than immediately rushing to discipline the child who shared the content. Recognising that both children are now carrying difficult and complex emotions helps to set the stage for genuine healing and reconciliation. 

Speak to Each Child Individually 

Take the time to talk to the child who shared the harmful content, explaining clearly why their action was so damaging and helping them to understand the weight of influencing a sibling’s thoughts and feelings. Equally, it is crucial to reassure the child who received the content that they are not to blame for what they were exposed to. Handling these conversations separately ensures that neither child feels humiliated in front of the other. 

Create a Path for Reconciliation 

Once you have addressed each child’s feelings and responsibilities, you can bring them together for a calm and guided discussion. Encourage the sibling who shared the content to offer a sincere apology, while also helping the other sibling to express how the incident made them feel. This process teaches accountability and gives the wronged child a powerful sense of being heard. 

Restore a Healthy Sibling Relationship 

After the initial issue has been addressed, parents should gently guide the siblings towards building positive interactions again. You can encourage joint activities that help to foster trust and cooperation, while also setting clear household boundaries about what kind of content is acceptable to share. When children feel they are part of creating a safe and supportive home environment, trust can gradually be rebuilt. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that family ties are sacred and must be protected. When a conflict arises between siblings, it is a spiritual duty to work towards reconciliation with mercy and justice, restoring the bonds of love that have been damaged. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hujuraat (49), Verses 10: 

‘ Indeed, the believers are brothers (to each other); so, make peace with your brothers; and seek piety from Allah (Almighty) so that you may receive His Mercy.‘ 

This verse is a direct command that when a conflict arises, the duty of those who believe is to actively work to reconcile and restore the bonds between their brothers and sisters with fairness and care. 

It is recorded in Riyadh Al Saliheen, Hadith 234, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He does not wrong him, nor desert him, nor despise him.’ 

This teaching establishes a core principle of our faith: that we must always safeguard the dignity and well-being of our brothers and sisters in faith, and this applies most especially to our own siblings. 

By using this difficult moment to teach your children that their bond is sacred and must be repaired when it is damaged, you can transform a mistake into a profound lesson. Through guidance on responsibility and forgiveness, they can learn that even when trust is broken, it can be rebuilt with sincerity and a shared faith in Allah Almighty.