Social media is everywhere with 95% of teens aged 13–17 using platforms, two-thirds checking in daily, and a third practically living online.
Picture this: you’re sitting at the dinner table, hoping for some quality family time, but everyone’s glued to their phones, scrolling, texting, or watching videos. Digital screens – be they smartphones, tablets, laptops, and TVs – have woven themselves into the fabric of our daily lives.
They’re incredible tools, connecting us to the world in ways we couldn’t have imagined a generation ago. But they’ve also brought new challenges, especially for families trying to stay close-knit. For parents, it’s a constant tug-of-war between embracing technology and keeping it from pulling the family apart.
Today’s children are growing up with screens as constant companions, and for many it’s more than just a habit.
If you find your kids lying over their use of digital screens, displaying rage when their access (especially to multiplayer online games) is restricted, underperforming at school, and withdrawing from social settings then it is likely that their engagement is bordering on the realm of addiction.
A 2022 World Health Organization study, surveying 28,0000 teens across 44 countries, found that 11% of adolescents show signs of problematic social media use, up from 7% just four years earlier.
Girls are hit harder (13%) than boys (9%). Another study covering 31 countries pegged internet addiction rates at around 6% for young people, though in places like South Korea, it’s as high as 30%.
The fallout is rough. Studies link excessive screen time to higher incidences of depression, anxiety, and even thoughts of self-harm. A study from Taiwan showed that teens with internet addiction were significantly more likely to struggle with suicidal thoughts a year later.
Socially, kids are spending less time with friends in person, which leaves them feeling isolated, even if they’re “connected” online. School grades often take a hit too as multitasking between homework and digital screens scatters focus. It’s a wake-up call for families to step in and help kids find balance.
A blessing and a burden
Social media is everywhere with 95% of teens aged 13–17 using platforms, two-thirds checking in daily, and a third practically living online.
Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are fun outlets for creativity and connection, but they’re also designed to keep you hooked. Algorithms feed you endless content tailored to your interests, making it hard to look away.
Studies show that heavy social media use can spike anxiety, depression, and stress, especially in teens. Social media can also open the door to cyberbullying, body image struggles, and sleepless nights from late-night scrolling or screen glare.
For families, it’s a challenge when kids are more focused on their online world than the people sitting across from them.
Family dinners turn into silent screen-staring sessions, and parents feel like they’re competing with influencers for their kids’ attention. But it’s not all bad.
Social media can connect kids to supportive communities, including mental health forums. The key is finding a way to enjoy the good without letting it take over.
AI: The invisible hand behind our screens
Artificial intelligence (AI) is quietly shaping how we interact with screens, and it’s a game-changer for families.
Those algorithms that keep you scrolling on YouTube or Instagram? That’s AI at work, learning what grabs your attention and serving up more of it.
It’s clever, but it can make digital addiction worse by creating a loop that’s hard to break. For teens, this can amplify issues like poor self-esteem or eating disorders.
On the flip side, AI can help too, with certain apps using therapy-based tools to tackle gaming addiction. But there’s a catch.
Experts warn that AI tools supporting content moderation are error prone, raising privacy concerns or unfairly targeting certain users. Families need to be smart about how they let AI into their homes.
A path forward for Muslim families
For Muslim families, the digital age feels like a test of faith and family. Screens can pull kids away from the values we hold dear, such as community and staying mindful of Allah.
Studies from Qatar show that nearly 30% of teenagers may be affected by patterns of internet overuse, often linked to challenges within their home or school environments.
It’s tough when screens distract from prayers or expose kids to content that clashes with Islamic teachings. But there’s hope, and it starts with leaning into our faith.
The roles of fathers and mothers are like two wings of a bird – working together to guide the family with love, faith, and balance. Fathers are the guiding shepherds (ra’i) of the family, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described in Sahih al-Bukhari. They set the tone by modelling discipline and taqwa.
In the digital world, this means showing kids how to use tech wisely – maybe sharing Islamic apps or limiting their own screen time to prioritize family. Fathers should have tough conversations about online risks, like harmful content, with firmness but kindness, teaching kids to filter the digital world through faith.
They can also carve out tech-free moments, like leading family prayers or outdoor activities, to strengthen bonds and keep the family grounded.
Mothers are the heart of the home, nurturing with compassion and wisdom. They create a warm open space where kids feel safe to share their online struggles, like cyberbullying or social media pressures.
Mothers can guide kids toward moderation by setting gentle boundaries, like no phones at dinner and encouraging spiritual habits, like Quran reading or dhikr together.
They’re also key in fostering emotional resilience, helping kids navigate the mental health challenges of digital addiction by listening and offering du’a (supplication) for guidance.
Both parents should team up as a united front to embody Islamic values, balancing authority with empathy.
They guide as partners, reinforcing rules, modeling healthy tech habits, and keeping faith first.
By praying together, hosting family gatherings, or engaging with the mosque community, they show kids that real connection – rooted in love for Allah (SWT) and each other – trumps any screen. It’s about being present, intentional, and united in raising kids who thrive in faith and the modern world.
Dr. Vahdet Görmez is a Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, as well as Cognitive and Developmental Psychology, at the College of Islamic Studies, Hamad Bin Khalifa University.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of Hamad Bin Khalifa University or Doha News, its editorial board, or staff. This piece is published as an opinion.
