By: Nazia Nabi

In our hyper-connected world, social media has become a lifeline for charitable causes, enabling global solidarity at the tap of a screen. But with this digital power comes a sobering reality: many posts now rely on the raw emotion of suffering children, often barefoot, sick, or crying, to spark engagement and donations. These images, though heart wrenching, risk transforming genuine hardship into viral content, where likes, shares, and emotional reactions become currency.

Islam teaches us that sadaqah (charity) must be given with dignity and discretion, never exploiting the vulnerable or parading their pain. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Charity that is given in secret extinguishes the wrath of the Lord” (Hadith, Tirmidhi). Yet today, the trend of filming distressed children for donations often does the opposite, broadcasting their suffering to millions without their understanding or consent.

This trend raises serious ethical red flags. Most of these children cannot grasp the lifelong consequences of their digital exposure or give informed permission to be featured online. Even when guardians allow it, we must ask, is that consent coming from empowerment or desperation, shaped by poverty and survival?

It is essential to recognize that emotional content featuring vulnerable children can easily........

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