Youth, Identity, and Islam: Social Media and Muslim Youth – Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib

This is the final of four articles based on the On-Demand Course ‘Youth, Identity, and Islam’, which delves into the intersection of faith, identity, and societal challenges, providing practical strategies to build resilience and a strong sense of self.

In this article, we will look at the dangers of social media and the role of Muslim youth and parents in being aware of these dangers to maintain integrity.

As we all know, social media has deeply integrated into our daily lives. It has become something we find difficult to detach from. While it is very beneficial for those who use it wisely and invest their time in ways that benefit themselves, their community, Islamic outreach, and education, its appropriate and ethical use must always be emphasized.

What is Integrity?

Integrity is reaching a level of uprightness and transparency in dealing with oneself, others, and, most importantly, with Allah (Most High). Integrity can be synonymous with taqwa. The term taqwa is rooted in Islamic teachings and mentioned in the Quran and the Sunna. However, some may misunderstand taqwa to be solely related to religious matters or a person’s private devotions, when in reality, it encompasses all dealings—both with Allah and His creation.

While taqwa is comprehensive, using contemporary terms like integrity can help convey the concept of being upright, truthful, and transparent. Integrity means not deceiving oneself or others. For instance, a person may delude themselves into thinking they are pious while their hidden actions reveal hypocrisy. We seek refuge with Allah from such behavior.

The Link Between Integrity and Social Media

What is the relationship between integrity and our use of social media? Before addressing this, let us first outline the benefits and harms of social media:

Benefits of Social Media

1. Access to Knowledge:
   Social media has democratized knowledge, making it accessible to everyone. Today, information in various fields—arts, sciences, languages, and more—is available to anyone with internet access.
2. Speed of Access:
   Social media enables quick retrieval of information across diverse fields and in various languages. Platforms like websites, WhatsApp, Telegram, and others offer resources that were unimaginable in the past.

Harms of Social Media

1. Addiction and Overuse:
   Overindulgence in social media can lead to a life consumed by it. This is particularly harmful to youth and children in their formative years.
2. Moral Decay:
   Exposure to inappropriate or harmful content can weaken a person’s taqwa and sense of accountability. Children exposed to such content at an early age may develop dishonest habits, like lying to avoid parental reprimand, which undermines their integrity.
3. Loss of Accountability:
   Unlimited freedom on social media can erode a person’s sense of being watched by Allah, leading to a disregard for boundaries and values.

Solutions

Since it is unrealistic to prevent our children from using social media entirely, we must adopt balanced approaches to address these harms:

1. Delayed Access:
   Avoid giving children personal devices at a young age. Instead, restrict access to specific times or educational purposes, introducing such devices gradually as they mature.
2. Religious Foundation:
   Strengthen children’s Islamic identity through Quran memorization, learning Prophetic traditions, and understanding Islamic principles. Parents must complement what schools teach by reinforcing Islamic values at home.
3. Supervised Learning:
   Enroll children in Quran circles and religious classes, whether in-person or online, with qualified and trustworthy teachers. Such guidance helps them grow with a strong moral compass and resilience against harmful ideologies.
4. Role of Institutions:
   Institutions like SeekersGuidance play a vital role by offering courses, lectures, and religious guidance based on sound Islamic teachings. Their efforts to provide accessible Islamic education worldwide are commendable.

May Allah (Most High) guide us all to the righteous path, protect us and our children from the trials of our times, both apparent and hidden.

Articles in This Series

1. Exploring Identity and Faith by Shaykh Muhammad Carr
2. Navigating Identity in a Multicultural World by Shaykh Abdul-Samee al-Yakti
3. Fostering Healthy Religious Identities by Moulana Zakariyya Harneker
4. Social Media and Muslim Youth – Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib