What works when siblings mimic YouTubers and start copycat mean challenges? 

Parenting Perspective 

It can be unsettling to see your children laughing as they prank or mock one another in ways copied directly from social media. If you object, they may dismiss your concerns with, ‘It is just a trend!’ or, ‘Everyone is doing it!’ But behind the laughter, a subtle shift is occurring: they are learning to normalise mockery and humiliation as forms of entertainment. What appears to be harmless fun can quietly erode empathy, respect, and sibling trust. The solution is not to ban every video, but to guide their hearts and minds, helping them to distinguish humour from harm and fleeting content from lasting character. 

Understanding the Appeal of Online Trends 

Children often mimic what they admire. To them, many YouTubers and social media influencers seem confident, popular, and funny. Imitating their behaviour can feel like belonging to something exciting and current. The danger is that this content often relies on reaction-based humour, which involves shocking, teasing, or embarrassing others for attention. Your children do not see the scripts, editing, or emotional manipulation that happens behind the scenes. Recognising this allows you to respond with empathy, rather than just anger or fear. 

Intervening Early and Defining the Problem 

When you notice a ‘mean challenge’ or prank beginning to take shape, do not dismiss it as harmless play. You must step in immediately and address the issue with clarity. 

You can say, ‘I can see you are trying to have fun, but this challenge is not kind. Making someone uncomfortable for a laugh is not something we do in our family.’ Your calm but firm tone is crucial; you are setting a moral boundary without turning it into a battle of wills. Children are more receptive to correction when it feels wise, not furious. 

Unpacking the Hidden Harm 

Sit down with your children when things are calm and talk about the content they have watched. Ask questions that encourage them to think more deeply: 

• ‘Did you notice how that person looked genuinely embarrassed or upset?’ 

• ‘Do you think the video would still be funny if that happened to you?’ 

Helping them to see beyond the surface of the content trains their discernment. With practice, they will begin to recognise when entertainment relies on manipulating emotions, a powerful and lifelong skill in the digital age. 

Establishing a Family Media Code 

Create a simple, memorable rule for all media consumption: ‘If it hurts, humiliates, or frightens someone, it is not funny.’ Discuss examples together, such as ‘pretend spill’ pranks or embarrassing dares. This fosters a shared understanding that real humour should be inclusive, not exclusive. 

You could also introduce a screening rule: ‘We only continue watching creators who make us feel good about being kind.’ This gently directs them toward positive role models rather than simply banning screens entirely. 

Replacing Imitation with Creativity 

Children often crave the excitement of participation. You can redirect this creative energy in a positive direction. 

• Encourage them to invent kind challenges, such as a ‘Compliment Challenge’ or a ‘Help Out for a Day’ task. 

• Involve them in creating their own funny stories or short skits that rely on cleverness rather than cruelty. 

This shows them that they do not have to imitate; they can innovate, and be both funny and kind at the same time. 

Your children live in a world where cruelty often gets more views than kindness. When you patiently model empathy, discernment, and self-control, you give them something far stronger than entertainment: you give them a conscience. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam places immense value on guarding the tongue, honour, and dignity of every person. Mocking or humiliating others, even as a joke, violates the core principles of adab (refined manners) and rahmah (mercy). The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ combined joy with gentleness; he made people smile, but never at someone else’s expense. Teaching your children this prophetic balance will anchor them in timeless values within a noisy, trend-driven world. 

The Quranic Warning Against Mockery 

The Quran provides the ultimate reminder that laughter born from another person’s humiliation is not innocent; it is a forbidden form of mockery. This divine guidance teaches that our words and actions should elevate others, not degrade them. 

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…and do not insult each other; and do not call each other by (offensive) nicknames…’ 

The Prophetic Example of Discernment 

The teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warn against the mindless imitation and repetition of things we see and hear, a lesson that is profoundly relevant in our digital age. 

It is recorded in Mishkaat Al Masaabih, Hadith 156, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘It is enough falsehood for a person to repeat everything he hears.’ 

This hadith is a powerful reminder for children copying harmful online trends. It teaches that wisdom requires us to filter what we encounter, distinguishing right from wrong before we act upon it or repeat it to others. 

When your siblings mimic mean-spirited online trends, you are facing more than a simple discipline issue; you are navigating a cultural storm. However, your steady presence, clear values, and calm reasoning can transform this challenge into a profound teaching moment. 

By connecting faith to their daily choices, you give your children a moral compass that is stronger than any algorithm. Over time, they will learn to measure ‘fun’ not by followers or likes, but by kindness and conscience. In that shift from copying cruelty to practising compassion, your home becomes a space where modern influence meets timeless guidance, and where mercy always leads.