Social attitudes, increasingly shaped by social media influencers and algorithm-driven platforms, are pressurizing women into believing that there is something fundamentally wrong with who they are.

They are made to feel that:

1. Their looks are inadequate. They are encouraged to apply countless skincare products and pursue ever-changing beauty standards, often until the pursuit itself becomes unhealthy and damaging.
2. Their attire is insufficiently liberating. They are pressured to adopt increasingly revealing fashions in the name of empowerment, while the inevitable realities of age and changing beauty are seldom acknowledged.
3. Their homemaking abilities are unworthy of respect. Natural domestic skills and the noble role of nurturing a home are portrayed as inferior to mundane corporate achievements, leaving many exhausted from chasing externally imposed definitions of success.
4. Raising a family is a lesser calling. Women who devote their time and energy to their children and families are often mocked or pitied, while alternative pursuits are celebrated uncritically until some later realize that the opportunity to build the family they desired has passed.
5. Marriage is outdated and restrictive. Stable commitment is frequently devalued in favour of temporary arrangements, leaving many psychologically drained by relationships devoid of permanence and mutual responsibility.
6. Adherence to faith is backward. Women who remain devoted to their faith are taunted and encouraged to seek solace elsewhere, as though spiritual conviction were an obstacle rather than a source of strength.
7. Cultural norms must be rejected. Rebellion against one’s community is praised as courage and progress, even when it results in alienation from the very people who provide identity, belonging, and support.
8. Moral values are obstacles to freedom. Moral principles are ridiculed as outdated taboos to be discarded, weakening the bonds of trust, cohesion, and shared purpose that hold communities together and exposing individuals to an increasingly exploitative and fragmented world.

An obvious consequence of such pressures is the gradual erosion of the ability to think independently, beyond the worldview inculcated by algorithms and social media trends. While these influences may provide short-term excitement and dopamine-driven gratification, the immense social pressure they generate often compels individuals to overlook the long-term consequences for themselves, their families, and society at large.

In this environment, criticism is frequently dismissed through labels. Every opposing voice is branded misogynistic, a victim-blamer, or an enemy of progress. The influence is so pervasive and outwardly liberal that increasing numbers of women and young girls are drawn into overlooking the logical inconsistencies and unintended consequences embedded within these narratives.

I therefore welcome the belated realization by governments such as those of Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France that stronger measures may be necessary to shield young people from the harmful effects of algorithm-driven social media.

Algorithm-driven social media is harmful company not only for teenagers but for adults as well.

“Little knowledge is a dangerous thing” is a saying that applies well here. People are often misled when they possess only a limited understanding of Islam and begin treating online propaganda as a source of truth. As a result, out-of-context references from the Qur’an and Hadith are presented as evidence that Islam oppresses women, and many accept these claims due to a lack of proper knowledge.

We should be grateful for the efforts of contemporary Islamic scholars and revivalists such as Mufti Yasir Nadeem, Qaiser Ahmed Raja, Mufti Shumail Nadawi, and others, who have challenged such propagandists in face-to-face discussions and live-streamed debates. Through reasoned arguments and authentic scholarship, they have helped many people understand the wisdom and rationale behind Islamic teachings.

Our faith is the most valuable asset we possess. Rather than allowing it to be weakened by misleading influences, we must safeguard it by avoiding environments, media, and associations that create doubts and confusion. If a question or uncertainty arises in our minds, we should immediately consult qualified scholars who can provide authentic guidance and clarification.

﴿فَسْـَٔلُوٓا أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ﴾

“So ask the people of knowledge if you do not know.” (Qur’an 16:43)

May Allah سبحانه وتعالى have mercy upon us, guide us to what is true and beneficial, and protect us from influences that distance us from wisdom, faith, and sound judgment.