Technology addiction and social media ethics

“Do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart – about all those one will be questioned.”
(Surah No. 17: Isra; Verse No. 36)

Dear brothers and sisters,
Islam primarily aims to ensure that the lives, properties, mental health, dignity, and faith of humans are preserved. It regards these five values inviolable. It does not approve in any manner these values being undermined for any reason. Binding all spheres of life, this fact is also applicable to the use of technology, the Internet and social media.
What fits a Muslim is to use the technology properly as approved by the religion, ethics, and common sense. To consider the Internet as a purposeless, useless and uncontrolled medium means to violate the five fundamental values Islam wants to be protected. This is because the inconsiderate use of technology harms human life by exposing threat to human health and inflicts costly damage to property by causing financial loss. It erodes human dignity through unethical orientations and human faith through radical and perverse ideologies. It impairs the ability to think and comprehend, and challenges the mental faculties. The technology, expected to buy time by speeding up the processes for human, has turned into the most deceiving trap for waste and loss of time today. Prophet Muhammad (saw), however, warned us as follows, “There are two blessings that many people lose: Health and free time.”
Today it is not possible to live in a way completely isolated from technology. In fact, Islam does not want such a thing either. However, it is the primary responsibility of all of us to use the technology as aware of halal-haram, paying attention to protecting moral principles, without violating human rights and liberties. That way we might have more productive time and more meaningful efforts. We might render the world better and peaceful… As long as we use the technology in accordance with the limits and boundaries set by Allah (swt) as in all His blessings.

Jobayer Al Mahmud, Student, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey