The Children We've Abandoned to Technology

Are Our Phones to Blame or Are We?

In the past, we used to respect and look up to our fathers and mothers; they were true role models for us. Similarly, we showed great respect to our teachers.

During our childhood, even with limited resources, we used to find happiness. We played games with our friends on the streets, and that brought us great joy. Back then, there were no mobile phones, so instead of calling our friends to find out where they were, we would go around looking for them.

So, what has happened to us?

Nowadays, our children don't put down their phones. Even when they meet their friends in person, they remain engrossed in online games on their devices. The responsibility of teaching manners and discipline is no longer solely ours because social media and today's complex digital world are controlling our children.

They learn about life, fashion, growth, knowledge, and the world through Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and etc.. However, what they learn on this path often leads to their unhappiness, disrespectful behavior within the family, and detachment from the real world. Who is guiding them, who is in control? The reality that has escaped our notice is that they have taken our children captive to educate them according to their own systems. They occupy our children's minds with unnecessary things during unnecessary times and steer them as they wish. What is their goal? Shaping our future and enslaving the next generation?

What are we doing to our children? Whom have we entrusted them to? Even television was more innocent, because when objectionable scenes came on, we would quickly switch it off when watching as a family. But now, our children are left alone in their rooms with their personal demons.

Today, mothers spend 2-3 hours talking with their friends, but personal visits are almost non-existent. We console ourselves with excuses like, "We talked on the phone anyway, there's COVID, long distances," and so on. When children get bored or seek attention, we immediately hand them their smartphones, and fathers are often busy with their phones or computer games. We are already living a short life in a dreamlike world, and within that dream, we are losing our purpose with more dream games, movies, and TV series. It's a fake dream designed to keep us from seeing the truth. So, what was our purpose when we came into this world? Where are we going? Individualism has enveloped us; good manners have been forgotten. We live without awareness of our neighbor's hunger, or the orphans and the poor.

When our children reach adolescence, they start applying the behaviors they learned from social media: alcohol, gambling, sexual freedom, and many other concepts, including drug use. Even if they may be a bit lucky and smart, our children often grow up in a way that is very different from our dreams, acquiring an individualistic and irresponsible personality that we didn't want.

Have we ever thought about what these children will become and how they will turn out in the future? Do you think they will send us to nursing homes, or will they have respect and love for us? Who is educating these children, and whom are they serving? Are they planning to destroy our culture deliberately? Are the founders of this evil world system the same individuals attacking countries that are trying to preserve their traditions around the world?

For the well-being of our children, we should at least consider limiting their phone usage and focus more on family interaction. Talking to them and spending time together is truly important. At the same time, it's crucial to free ourselves from these digital addictions. This way, we can return to our faith, our essence, our culture, and our real world.

Let us not forget that as Muslims, we are responsible for our children and our families. This is a test for us. Real life begins after death. Raising them closer to Allah and His Messenger with good education and guidance will be a great gain for us in this world and the hereafter.

Narrated Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "All of you are shepherds, and each one is responsible for his flock. The ruler is a shepherd, and he is responsible for his people. A man is the shepherd of his family, and he is responsible for his flock. A woman is the shepherd of her husband's house, and she is responsible for her flock. A servant is the shepherd of his master's property, and he is responsible for his flock. In the end, all of you are shepherds, and you are responsible for the flock you oversee. " (Buhârî, Cum`a 11, İstikrâz 20 )