3 Ways Social Media Tests our Faith
Despite all the
opinions expressed and doubts raised about social media, its destruction of
values, erosion of identity, corruption of morals, and deterioration of
relationships, its greatest danger remains largely overlooked. It continues to
eat away at the fabric of our communities in deadly silence, exposing a
fundamental question: How does social media test our faith?
1.
The Solitude of Screens and the Absence of Accountability
In the past,
lowering one's gaze was driven by two things: either fear of Allah and
obedience to His commands, or embarrassment before other people and fear of
their judgment. If fear of Allah did not stop someone from looking at what was
forbidden, the awareness that others were watching often did.
But with the
rise of the internet and the spread of social media, those watching eyes have
disappeared. The only one left to watch is Allah. This has allowed people of
weak faith to indulge their eyes in things that no Muslim should look at, or
even allow themselves to imagine.
This was the
first way social media began to test our faith.
2.
A Corrupt Environment and the Price of Staying Upright
Over time, as
more people became convinced that social media causes more harm than good,
those who feared falling into temptation began withdrawing from this
environment, leaving the space to those who saw it as an opportunity for
liberation and a gateway to modernity.
As a result,
social media has gradually shifted from a digital environment that reflects the
real social fabric of a community into a toxic and corrupt space that burdens
you with sins simply by passing through it, with revealing images, vulgar
content, and forbidden relationships. What, then, of those who have made it
their refuge and permanent home?
3.
The Power of Algorithms: How Are Awareness and Values Being Reshaped in Arab
Communities?
Those behind
these platforms and the programmers who design them have not stopped at making
you a prisoner of your own weakness, pulling you back to social media the
moment your eyes open after waking up, throughout your meals and working hours,
while sitting with family and friends, and finally as you lie in bed at night,
only to begin the battle all over again the next morning.
They have also
learned how to pursue you with an endless barrage of content. If one arrow
misses its mark, a thousand more are fired in its place. We find useful content
restricted and truthful content pushed aside, leaving us trapped in an
environment where the poison is rarely mixed with honey. And even when honey
does appear, you may find that bitterness lies hidden within it.
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