"I believe in feminism"
"I believe in women's rights"
"TransLives"
Social media is making us more fragile, fake and toxic than ever before.
The impact it's having on our identities is frightening and we really need to talk about it.
Let's talk.
On any given day, we're exposed to hundreds and thousands of profiles.
We observe their lifestyles, activities,
fashion choices, senses of humor
and even their opinions, beliefs and moral stances.
And amidst this online sea of 4.5 billion people,
we all long for acceptance and are vulnerable to their validation in one form or another.
And this is having a lasting impact on our identities and who we are.
How?
Well, it all comes down to the way social media works.
You see, to build a successful profile or identity on social media
you need to gain likes, shares and engagement,
this is generally achieved by appeasing to what your online audience, friends and followers finds popular
and also conforming to what the algorithm wants.
For example, if X is popular, you must promote X.
"Women's rights are important",
they actually are, they are, it's just an example.
In doing so, your audience will reward you with likes and shares and comments,
while the algorithm will further your engagement
and push you onto the news feeds and timelines of others,
all of which releases dopamine in your brain
and biologically motivates you to continue the process again and again.
"Woman's rights are very important,
they are extremely important and dear to me"
You get the point.
Now this entire cycle pretty much creates echo chambers online,
where people keep posting content that is popular amongst their circle,
which pleases their audiences and the algorithm.
Now this of course is nothing wrong when it's delivering you good quality content, like on OnePath Network and others.
But the issue arises when it begins to deliver content that's actually harmful.
I mean, the algorithm doesn't care if what you're posting is beneficial or increases people's spiritual or moral fulfillment,
it doesn't even care where you stand on the side of a conversation,
you could be on the right or the left, it doesn't matter.
It only cares that what you're posting is attractive enough
to keep people glued to their screens.
And this is precisely where the problem lies.
Having a formula that drives a successful online identity
based on popularity is no way indicative of a person's value or worth.
I mean, you could be posting content that leads to anxiety and depression amongst young girls,
which most popular profiles are currently doing.
Yet, still maintain a successful online identity.
You could even be a complete fraud
and parade empty moral slogans all across your page
and still achieve a successful online identity, attracting large audiences and being favored by the algorithm.
All this and I still haven't even touched the most dangerous of threats of war.
You see, striking research shows that the algorithm
has proven to favor content that is more polarizing
and negative in nature.
Simply because such content is more popular and engaging.
"Misinformation, angry content is enticing to people
and keeps them on the platform"
So for us, it's no longer enough to say "Women's rights are important",
but rather "Men are trash, men are really bad,
I hate men so much, please like my post"
And we're actually rewarded for such behavior with likes, shares,
further engagement and of course more dopamine
encouraging us to continue the process.
It's no wonder we're seeing a rise in anger, hatred and division online, even amongst muslims themselves.
Online, we're becoming more toxic than ever before
and this is not because it's in our best interest to be angry people,
but rather it's what keeps people engaged and helps platforms make more money.
And this is nothing new, I mean anger was one of the most foremost emotions
tapped into by Hitler to further his popularity via the radio,
and it's still happening today.
Only this time with the help of algorithms.
The dangers surrounding social media and its impact on our identities is very real.
And as muslims, it's something we really need to be concerned about.
As muslims we are not people who are swayed by or those who randomly follow
that which is popular, trends or bandwagons.
But instead, we follow the Prophet, what the Prophet gives you take and what he refrains you from, refrain.
The obsession with gaining the pleasure of an online audience
and an invisible algorithm goes entirely against our pursuit of achieving the pleasure of Allah in all that we do.
It's a fragile way to form our identities and it's something we should be deeply wary of.
So many times in the Quran, we see a strong condemnation of just following that which is popular.
"..."
Good and evil and not equal even though you may be dazzled by the abundance of evil.
And of course,
"..."
If you were to obey most of those on earth,
the popular masses, they would lead you away from Allah's way.
And this couldn't be more pertinent and important than it is today.
I mean today in the age of feeling.
"And I would say that our age is the age of feeling"
Where people's unrestrained desires and feelings define
the popular way in which society determines right from wrong,
we should be very concerned.
We are literally warned about following our desires in the Quran so many times,
but desires are exactly what most people are using today to define their morality.
This is not to mention the fact that what is popular and acceptable amongst the masses today,
can very well change tomorrow.
That which will bring you audiences and the pleasure of people today
can very well have you cancelled tomorrow.
This is why it's crucial for us as muslims to develop our identities
without the hidden manipulative pressures of social media and algorithms.
We need to establish our roots in who we are
before diving into the wild world of social media.
We need to study our religion Islam, find out who we are as muslims,
what are our principles, what are our values, away from the pressures of algorithms.
We are bombarded with so many world views, philosophies,
opinions and doubts online that are popular and accepted to the masses.
We need to know how to deal with them as muslims
and once again, I don't deny that social media can also have a positive impact on our identities
when it's used correctly and when we are exposed to and interact with the right people
with the right thoughts and ideas.
But the dangers are still very genuine and it's something we need to be wary of.
I ask Allah to make us of those who follow the Prophet, ﷺ and not popularity,
those who seek the pleasure of Allah and not the pleasure of audiences and algorithms.
Ameen.
If you enjoyed this video along with all other content Onepath Network produces
please support us so we can create beneficial content for the world.
Go to onepathnetwork.com, you can support us for as little as a 1$ a day,
Jazakumullahu Khairan for your support.