Who could have ever thought that people constantly posting their personal pictures on the Internet was a bad idea…? Except, if you recall, many did in fact warn against it.

As an observer of the continuously evolving digital era, I often find myself pondering upon how the rise of social media networks has reshaped things so drastically. It almost feels like I, as a mere spectator, am helplessly watching on as a man topples off the top of a towering building, simply unable to do anything to prevent his inevitable fatal impact with the ground he is hurtling towards.

Going back a couple of decades, our generation would issue strong warnings about the perils of posting personal photos online. Back then, the idea of such a thing was simply beyond comprehension, and it was something scarcely practiced. We lived in a world that cherished privacy and also cultivated a mature understanding of its significance.

Regrettably, however, a new generation had emerged, one which completely disregarded the advices of their older, much wiser counterparts. Why? Because they thought they knew better than everyone else.

This new generation grew up with social media networks as an integral part of their lives. And it seems this may be why they seemingly lack the crucial sense of modesty and privacy that was once held dear by all.

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Initially, Facebook hadn’t encouraged the widespread sharing of photos, and only some users would tentatively display their photos as their profile pictures. Then, along came Instagram, normalizing the incessant publication of pictures of oneself.

To my surprise, social media networks soon also became the primary arena for people to seek out romantic connection. During my youth, finding a partner on social media was almost unthinkable, and it was deemed to be somewhat shameful. Initiating a chat on the internet by sending a message to some complete stranger of the opposite sex was a deplorable and pitiable act that would be met with glances of disdain and disapproval.

Though some tried to forge real-life connections from their online shenanigans, such endeavors were often ridiculed and proved to be largely ineffective.

Yet, the subsequent generation viewed things quite differently. On Facebook, young people started to flirt with one another and connect openly, steadily encouraging each other to post even more pictures of themselves on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, etc.

Over time, this practice became commonplace and even legitimized, thus giving rise to other progressively worse platforms such as Tinder, OnlyFans, and TikTok, taking this brazenness to increasingly newer heights.

The impact of this technological revolution on Muslims, particularly women, has been very profound. In my time, it was not uncommon to find women who had never meaningfully interacted with the opposite sex. Yes, they were still a minority, but they could still be found. Nowadays, with the advent of social networking, finding such women has become almost impossible.

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Unfortunately, almost all young people today have engaged in interactions with the opposite sex that are unlawful in Islam, often crossing lines that were once considered unthinkable even among non-Muslims. The algorithms of these social media networks, carefully geared towards catering to the passions of women and their desire for attention, have unwittingly fostered insatiable cravings, leading women to relentlessly share more and more of themselves.

Even some of the most modest women, who initially shied away from displaying their faces or silhouettes, have gradually succumbed to the unhealthy allure of digital exhibitionism. Some have even abandoned the hijab entirely, which is deeply concerning.

I understand that this introduction may seem somewhat protracted, but it is extremely crucial to provide the context and perspective necessary in order to effectively convey the message of this article.

The truth is, many women have fallen into the trap of seeking validation and fame through social media. Men, too, have been ensnared in this trap, though the damage to their reputations might be, to some degree, less severe. Young people have been blinded completely by the allure of glory, fame, recognition, ostentation, and narcissism, leading them to believe that there will never be any consequences to their actions.

But alas, they are wildly mistaken. Sooner or later, the consequences will indeed catch up with them.

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The Stealthy Perils of Posting: AI’s Drastic Turn

Posting personal images on social networks may have, once upon a time, appeared to be harmless. But in the current age of advanced technology, especially with the advent of AI, the potential dangers have now taken a very drastic turn. AI generated images are becoming increasingly more realistic and more difficult to discern from reality.

Of course, there were many dangers that already existed, even before AI was a thing. There were always things like doxing, editing, the exploiting of images for pleasure, and so on. These dangers always existed, and they were very real. However, they fell squarely within the tolerance threshold for the shamelessness of most modern Muslim women, and this is a great tragedy in and of itself.

It seems that technology has now reached the stage where it has finally trounced the shamelessness of modern Muslim women:

[ ALERTNESS POST] ‼️

Well, I was checking my Instagram's message request and then found this horrible thing!At first I got panic attack & felt scare! Then I thought maybe I should post about this to make others aware. Dress remover AI.Nowadays it has become a rising topic in 1/6 pic.twitter.com/Xz6Dk8HJOd

— AYESHA🦅KHAN (@AyeshaSKhan5) July 31, 2023

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The idea of going home to find a fake naked photo of yourself that has been shared and seen by millions is the straw that breaks the camel’s back. I think the most shocking part of this tweet, though, is the extremely mild advice given by this sister to other Muslim women.

Muslim women are in existential danger of having their images exploited for pornographic purposes, and the advice she gives people is to “be careful with your friend list” and to “report suspicious accounts.” Well, thank you very much for the great advice!

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From a reputational standpoint, this new technology threatens to equate a pornographic actress with a woman who posts a few pictures of herself online. We know instinctively that having a history in pornography does not bode well for serious relationships or prospects for marriage. Every woman who has shared their images online is now exposed to this danger, and we beseech Allah for the preservation of our families and reputations.

Reversing the aftermath of such an image being released is an extremely difficult and daunting task. Once it’s out there, it’s out there. At that point, it is almost out of our control, and the risk of it randomly resurfacing in the future cannot ever be ignored.

To mitigate the damage as much as possible, it is essential that we all promptly delete all of our photos from all social media and internet platforms, especially those in private chat applications, where images can be even more compromising due to the private nature of personal exchanges.

Cloud applications, too, must be handled with great care, as they can automatically store photos and make them accessible through a simple internet connection.

A self-respecting Muslim woman must conduct a thorough cleanup of all the places where her photos may be found, especially on public platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.

For some women, the damage may already be very extensive, and it may seem practically impossible to get rid of certain photos from the internet. While such images are undeniably at significant risk of being exploited, it is vital that we learn from our mistakes and never make the same mistake again. We must always heed advice and reminders, fear Allah, and refrain from shamelessly exposing ourselves in public.

Rather than succumbing to fatalism, we must take exhaustive preventative measures to safeguard our future generations from such vulnerabilities. Implementing strict internet usage policies within Muslim families is absolutely crucial. The Muslim man is duty-bound to safeguard his family from indecency and shame and to be the protector of the honor of his womenfolk.

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Even if we successfully shield our women from social networks, the danger still remains for as long as they do not wear the niqab. Everyone is at risk of being photographed in public places, making it essential in our times to advocate for the niqab en masse. We must also raise awareness among our relatives about refraining from taking and distributing photos of our womenfolk.

Some may very well view this concern as paranoia and fearmongering, but this is the level of scrupulousness that Muslim men have employed to safeguard their wives. Remember, it’s all good until it’s not. Once the bell has been rung, you can’t unring it. Once you’ve reached that point, you have no choice but to live with the consequences of your actions. At the end of the day, prevention is better than cure.

Ultimately, we must return to the pure principles of the Shari’ah, which serves as the perfect system for protecting the honor and happiness of women, regardless of whether or not we are able to comprehend its wisdom. Sometimes we only know the true value of something after it is lost.

Our refuge lies in Allah’s perfect guidance, as He has provided everything that is required for his female servants to be safe and protected from harm. In contrast, the Western way of life tends to cultivate nothing but misery, shame, and destruction.

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