The Dangers of Following Social Media Trends

In the current digital era, social media has become an inseparable part of human life. Every day, millions of people share their lives, follow trends, and compete for popularity in cyberspace. Platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are not only places for sharing, but have become arenas for competing to become popular.

Unfortunately, many of the trends circulating on social media are not only useless, they often contain things that damage moral values, erode faith, and lead to sin. What is more worrying is that some Muslims are involved in this current without realizing the dangers, both to their personal morals, society and the afterlife.

The phenomenon of social media trends in Indonesia

In Indonesia, according to Global Statistics, social media users will reach more than 191 million active users in 2024. The majority of active users come from young people, including students and university students. What is worrying is the negative influence of social media trends that are spreading among Muslim youth. Examples of dangerous trends that have gone viral include:

Challenge dangerous: Such as drinking strange liquids, jumping from heights, or hurting yourself.

Content that shows intimate parts: Many Muslim women are tempted to create dance content, sing in minimal clothing, or show body parts that should be covered.

joke rude and condescending: For the sake of content or audience laughter, someone is willing to embarrass other people, even their own family.

Show off wealth (show off): Giving rise to a culture of hedonism and envy in society.

These facts show that social media is not just entertainment. It can be a tool for spreading massive evil. And if it is not accompanied by faith and knowledge, it will plunge you into the valley of humiliation.

Islamic View: Following trends without knowledge is a mistake

Islam is a religion that teaches balance, manners and responsibility. In the Qur’an, Allah reminds us that humans will be held accountable for what they do, even for their words and eyes. Allah Story said,

And if you obey most of the people on earth, they will surely lead you astray from the path of Allah. They just follow suspicion, and they just lie.

“And if you obey most of the people on this earth, they will surely lead you astray from the path of Allah. They only follow the same thing and they only lie (to Allah).” (QS. Al-An’am: 116)

This verse is a hard slap to those who justify everything just because “everyone is doing it”. In the context of social media, following trends just because “many people are doing it” without filtering it with Islamic values ​​is a form of negligence that can lead to error.

Every human being will be held responsible for its content. Allah Exalted said,

He didn’t say a word but there was an observer by his side, ever present.

“He didn’t say anything except near the guardian angel who was always present.” (QS.QAF: 18)

Every word, image, video that we upload is all recorded. Are we ready to take responsibility for the dances we create, joke What do we do, the aurat that we show before Allah on the Day of Judgment?

There is one more thought for someone who is the cause of other people copying their bad content, namely the sin of jariyah. Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam say,

Whoever leads people astray, his sin is the same as the sin of those who follow him, without reducing his sin in the slightest.

“Whoever calls astray, he will sin as the sins of those who follow him, without reducing his sin.” (HR. Muslim no. 2674)

How many people copy our style after seeing our videos? If what is imitated is bad, then we share their sins. And that sin will continue to flow as long as the content is spread, even though we have died.

Don’t be fooled by popularity

The “FYP” phenomenon. (For Your Page) on social media often becomes an obsession for its users. They feel successful if their video enters FYP, goes viral, is watched by hundreds of thousands of people, and gets a lot “like” And “comment”. However, from the perspective of faith, we should be worried about something like this. Moreover, the content created is content that violates the Sharia.

Islam protects it Izzah (glory), not prestige

Allah protects the glory of those who believe. Lord Story berfriman,

Glory belongs to Allah, to His Messenger, and to those who believe

“And glory belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and those who believe…” (QS. Al-Munafiqun: 8)

God makes no promises Izzah For those whose lives only pursue human praise, but for those who maintain their faith and honor.

In a hadith, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam say,

If you’re not embarrassed, do whatever you want.

“If you have no shame, then do as you please.” (HR. Bukhari no. 6120)

People who lose their sense of shame will dare to do anything: dancing in public, talking dirty, even cheating for content. Shame is a brake on faith. If it is damaged because of social media, then what is damaged is not only our content, but our hearts.

Social media is one of the tests of this era. If used for good, such as da’wah, education, motivation, dissemination of knowledge, then it can become a field of reward. But if it is used to indulge lust and show off sin, it can be the fastest way to hell.

Road safety in the digital era

Things we can do to protect ourselves in today’s digital era include:

1) Hold your finger before uploading. And ask yourself, “Is this content approved by Allah?”

2) Follow preaching and knowledge accounts to create a digital environment that is healthy for faith.

3) Be an example of kindness on social media. Use platforms Social media is a reward field, not a place of crime.

4) Increase istigfar and improve your intentions. If you ever spread evil, delete it and repent immediately.

My brother, life is too short to waste it on momentary pleasures. Popularity in cyberspace is not comparable to God’s wrath. Let’s be wise in using social media. Measure each of our actions with the scales of the Shari’a. Because what goes viral in the world, may not necessarily be useful in the afterlife. Allah Exalted said,

Anyone who does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And anyone who commits even an atomic crime will see it

“Whoever does the load dzarrah However, he would meet him. And whoever commits a serious crime dzarrah However, he would meet him. (QS. Az-Zalzalah: 7–8)

O Allah, make us among those who listen to the word and follow it as best as possible, and make us firm on Your straight path.

O Allah, make us among those who listen to our advice and follow it as best as possible, and strengthen us on Your straight path.

Also read: The Dangers of Gibah and Namimah in the Era of Social Media

***

Writer: Gazzeta Raka Putra Setyawan

Article Muslim.or.id