School age
Advertising, consumerism and children
Children are addressed directly by advertisers on television and online. Guidance on explaining advertising to children and protecting them from material craving and false ideals.
Resources
Verified guidance from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
Directly sourced from Friday Sermons, Q&A sessions and official publications — no paraphrasing.
Khalifatul Masih V · Friday Sermon
Excessive love for children can itself become a form of hidden shirk
“Disobeying a clear commandment of Allah the Exalted, so that one may agree with the demands of the children is a covert shirk... This is neither entertainment nor freedom; rather, these are pits of fire in the name of entertainment and freedom.”
Switzerland · 2010-04-23
Verified source
Publication: Al Fazl International, 14 May 2010
- TextAl Islam (Official)https://www.alislam.org/book/social-media/role-of-parents-in-training-of-children/
Khalifatul Masih V · This Week with Huzoor
Parents must watch children's mobile phone time — and explain why, with kindness
“It is the duty of the parents as well that they should watch that their children are not spending too much time on mobile phones and make them realise, with love and kindness, that they have a purpose and they should try to achieve that purpose instead of wasting their time on online games.”
MTA studios (mulaqat broadcast) · 2025-12-12
Verified source
Publication: MTA News, 12 December 2025; cited in Review of Religions
- VideoMTA Internationalhttps://www.mta.tv/news/120717/this-week-with-huzoor-12th-december-2025
- TextThe Review of Religionshttps://www.reviewofreligions.org/47816/phones-a-love-hate-relationship/
Trusted online-safety guidance
Verified advice on this topic from recognised child online-safety organisations.
Internet Matters
Keep Children Safe Online: Information, advice, support
“Working with online experts, we're here to provide parent, carers and professionals with advice and support to keep children safe online”
https://www.internetmatters.org/
NSPCC
Talking to your child about online safety
“Sometimes you might be worried about what your child's doing online or who they're speaking to, but not know how to talk to them about it. We've got advice to help.”
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/talking-child-online-safety/
Common Sense Media
Online Safety — Parenting, Media, and Everything in Between
“Get advice about Online Safety from Common Sense Media editors.”
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/online-safety
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