The internet has become a vast knowledge base for children, opening them up to the world and exposing them to things they have never seen before, expanding their cultural horizons. Compare the words, information, and actions children know and perform today with what you knew at their age—the main difference is the internet and their access to devices that facilitate it. Previous generations had other activities, such as magazines and purposeful comic books for children, most of which have now ceased publication. With the high cost of toys, many parents can no longer provide them. As a result, children move from one device to another, escaping into the internet—just like their parents.
Many parents give in to the persistent requests of their children so that they can be like other kids. They end up buying them internet-connected devices from a very young age.
Here are some important guidelines parents should observe in raising their children:
The internet provides innovative learning communities for many arts. Observe what your child watches, learns, and becomes interested in. If it is beneficial and free of religious violations, encourage them to pursue it so it becomes a productive hobby. If it involves harm, explain why they should avoid it—do not simply forbid them without reason, as curiosity may lead them back to it later. Every art can be used to serve Islam and elevate its message. Perhaps, when they grow, they may excel in such a field and become a means of spreading Islam, and you will share in the reward. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever directs someone to good will have a reward similar to that of the one who does it” (Muslim). And Allah says: “Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees” (Al-Mujādilah 58:11).
Qur'an “Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.” (Al-Mujādilah 58:11)
Negative use of the internet can cause children to become isolated and withdrawn. It is best to set specific times for them to use internet-connected devices, while also providing alternative activities so that their mental health and attachment to these devices are balanced.
Parents should supervise their children’s registration on social media, monitor their followers and friends, and know who they are speaking with. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The example of a good companion and a bad one is that of a carrier of musk and a blacksmith’s bellows. The musk carrier may give you some perfume, you may buy some from him, or simply enjoy a pleasant fragrance. As for the bellows, it may burn your clothes, or you may smell a foul odor from it” (Muslim). Thus, parents must be aware of who their children’s companions are, online and offline.
Hadith The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The example of a good companion and a bad one is that of a carrier of musk and a blacksmith’s bellows. The musk carrier may give you some perfume, or you may buy some from him, or you may smell a pleasant fragrance from him. As for the bellows, it may burn your clothes, or you may smell a foul odor from it.” (Sahih Muslim, 2638)
Encourage children to maintain family ties using social media, fostering closeness with relatives of their age as well as uncles and aunts. How beautiful it is to nurture this noble quality in children from a young age!
As discussed in the section on health, children should be cautioned against spending long, unhealthy hours on devices. One of the main causes of back curvature in today’s youth is prolonged sitting in poor posture at computers, while extended use of handheld devices can weaken ligaments at an early age. Likewise, long periods of staring at screens during video games can cause eye strain, blurred vision, and headaches. Parents should remind children of protective measures for eye health.
Most online video games allow player interaction, but sadly this often leads to insults and profanity. Children should be taught to restrain their tongues and avoid harming others. Many games also provide complaint systems through which players can report offensive behavior for review and action by administrators.
Most online games now include in-game stores for buying upgrades such as armor, weapons, or character customizations. Many players overspend on these features. Parents must prevent children from making such purchases without supervision, and advise them to reflect: is this purchase truly worthwhile, or could the money be spent on something more beneficial? Allah says: “And do not waste [resources] extravagantly. Indeed, He does not like the wasteful” (Al-Aʿrāf 7:31).
Qur'an “And do not waste [resources] extravagantly. Indeed, He does not like the wasteful.” (Al-Aʿrāf 7:31)
Some applications and devices provide parental control features and child content filters. These can be useful for monitoring and guiding children’s activity. However, parents should note that such filters are usually designed according to Western cultural norms, so it is important to review what they allow and block.
It is vital to deal with children wisely, especially concerning modern technology. They should neither be completely deprived of it nor given unrestricted freedom. Rather, they must be guided to use it properly—benefiting from its advantages without feeling left behind compared to their peers.