Presented with an array, of selfies, viral challenges, fitness images, attractive foods, glamorous holidays, and the illusion of perfect lives, social media has undoubtedly become an influential component in shaping users' self-image. From an Islamic perspective, the impact of social media on self-image propels us into an important topic to dissect, given Islam's principles on self-perception, humility, and, modesty. Social media has brought the world to our fingertips and has altered the way we perceive ourselves and others. The pervasiveness of social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat, offers both a myriad of opportunities and challenges. Amidst these challenges is the significant pressure on Muslims to doggedly conform to social media’s often unrealistic standards of beauty and success, sometimes leading to self-esteem issues, and dissatisfaction with personal accomplishments.

The Quran emphasizes that Allah has created humanity in the best of forms

Therefore, the Islamic viewpoint encourages a positive self-image without surrendering to unfavorable comparisons or stereotypes projected via digital platforms. The narrative focuses on finding contentment in one's existence and what Allah has provided, rather than, yearning for external validation. This is a crucial lesson in an era where there is, pressure to portray a 'hyper-perfect' life online, a pursuit that often leads, to jeopardizing mental health.

Islam preaches the importance of humility and modesty, where self-worth is not attached to material possessions, physical beauty or social status, but to moral integrity and spiritual growth. Islam encourages Muslims to understand that their worth is not determined by likes, shares, or comments on an Instagram post. Instead, self-worth is about acknowledging one’s intrinsic value as a creation of Allah, appreciating the unique gifts bestowed upon each of us, and expressing gratitude for them.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said,

In October 2021, an investigative series, called “The Facebook Files” by The Wall Street Journal exposed that Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has been consciously targeting teenagers, including exacerbating body image issues among teen girls despite being aware of the potential harm. This contributed to Meta being held accountable for prioritizing profit over user safety resulting in global outrage and calls for better regulation.

Islamic ethical perspectives emphasize fairness, honesty, transparency and maintaining societal harmony. They stress heavily on the protection, safety and well-being of children and young people. In the light of these values, this investigation's findings raise serious ethical concerns. From an Islamic standpoint, every entity, including corporations like Meta are expected to operate in a way that upholds justice and does not cause harm to others, particularly the vulnerable which includes minors. Deliberately manipulating and exploiting minors for commercial gain, a category where this act falls is seen as an unethical and damaging activity that could lead to harmful societal effects such as breaking family ties, increasing mental health issues among young people, and encouraging materialism and narcissism.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said,

By extension, this hadith underscores the importance of considering the welfare of others in one's actions. In the case of Meta, the company has been found not only neglecting this responsibility, but actively engaging in actions that are injurious to a section of society, the teenagers. It's essential to note that Islam encourages advancements and utilizing technology including social media. However, this should be directed towards enhancing human welfare, fostering genuine connections and promoting goodness in society, not manipulating vulnerabilities and causing distress.

Despite the challenges, social media can also be a platform to construct a positive self-image consistent with Islamic values. Muslims worldwide use these platforms to share valuable Islamic teachings, promote modest fashion trends, foster a sense of community, and market halal products, and services, thus counteracting the negative influences.

In the face of social media's growing influence, it becomes an individual's responsibility to navigate it wisely. Islam promotes the idea of 'Hikmah' (wisdom), which can be applied in this context by utilizing social media in a way that boosts our self-image positively rather than deteriorating it.

In conclusion, while social media's impact on self-image cannot be ignored, an Islamic perspective provides a robust framework to cope with these challenges. By focusing on our unique journey, understanding our worth as creations of Allah, embracing humility, modesty and harnessing the positive power of social media, we can cultivate a healthier self-image that aligns with our deeply-held Islamic values.