Doom scrolling and protecting attention

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Verified guidance from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Directly sourced from Friday Sermons, Q&A sessions and official publications — no paraphrasing.

• Khalifatul Masih V · Address to children

  A direct warning to children themselves: idle scrolling can harm body and mind

  “Idly watching TV, or scrolling endlessly on electronic devices can damage your physical and mental health.”

  Germany · 2019-01-01

  Verified source

  Publication: Cited in Review of Religions, 'Phones: A Love-Hate Relationship'

  • TextThe Review of Religionshttps://www.reviewofreligions.org/47816/phones-a-love-hate-relationship/
  Read

• Khalifatul Masih V · Social Media (book), p. 36

  Facebook 'shatters boundaries' — named as the flagship example of the social-app category

  “These days a new method of introduction has been created on the computer and the Internet called Facebook. ... It shatters the boundaries among people, boundaries from one another, boundaries around secrets. It exposes secrets and invites indecency.”

  N/A — book excerpt · 2015-01-01

  Verified source

  Publication: alislam.org / official compilation

  • Textfiles.alislam.cloudhttps://files.alislam.cloud/pdf/Social-Media.pdf
  Read

• Khalifatul Masih V · This Week with Huzoor — timestamp 19:58

  'How can we safeguard ourselves from the addiction of mobile phones?'

  “19:58 – How can we safeguard ourselves from the addiction of mobile phones?”

  Broadcast mulaqat with Waqifaat-e-Nau, Belgium · 2023-11-24

  Verified source

  Publication: alislam.org video archive

  • VideoAl Islam (Official)https://www.alislam.org/video/this-week-with-huzoor-24-november-2023/
  Watch

• Khalifatul Masih V · Friday Sermon

  Screen time at night undermines the quality of morning prayer

  “You can observe this in most homes that the eldest to the youngest are not offering Fajr Salat on time as they were either watching TV or were online on the Internet until late, watching some program and, as a result, they could not wake up on time.”

  Baitul Futuh Mosque, London · 2013-03-15

  Verified source

  Publication: Al Fazl International, 5 April 2013

  • VideoAl Islam (Official)https://www.alislam.org/friday-sermon/2013-03-15.html
  • TextAl Islam (Official)https://www.alislam.org/book/social-media/excessive-use-of-tv-internet-leads-to-neglect-of-worship/
  WatchRead

• Khalifatul Masih V · Waqf-e-Nau Class

  Love of Allah cannot grow alongside TV-drama obsession

  “If the worldly desire increases so that one is engrossed in TV dramas and the Internet and is late in offering Salat, then love for Allah cannot develop. Gaining this love requires sacrifice of desires.”

  Masjid Baitur Rasheed, Germany · 2011-10-08

  Verified source

  Publication: Al Fazl International, 6 January 2012

  • TextAl Islam (Official)https://www.alislam.org/book/social-media/excessive-use-of-tv-internet-leads-to-neglect-of-worship/
  Read

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/

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• 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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• Childline

  Online safety

  “You should feel good while you're online. To help you out, we've got tips, advice, and support you can use however you like.”

  https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/

  Share or save this

Explore more topics

Suggested next reads, plus the topics parents are asking about most right now.

• Related

  Screens, phones and social media

  The proper use of phones and social media in the light of the guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba), and how parents may set limits that children willingly accept.

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  Screens, mental health and depression

  The effect of continuous use of social media upon the mind and heart of a child, and the measures parents may take to safeguard their well-being.

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