We had a lovely time on Inspire FM this Monday with host Shemiza and Nasreen from Variant Space. You can listen to the whole show below!

One of the conversations we had were about bloggers. We’ve seen them rocket with the rise of social media and a lot of the attention the modest fashion world and muslim women are currently getting is down to bloggers. The first wave of Muslim bloggers it was very much about representing an identity that wasn’t found in the pages of Vogue or in fashion week. Muslim women taking to social media with hijab tutorials, modest fashion lookbooks and chatty videos giving advice.

Look in the comments section and for every “That’s not hijab,” You’ll see a young girl who is thanking a blogger for increasing their confidence and self esteem as a young Muslim woman.

There is no denying that bloggers have been able to create a movement that has inspired many and built confidence in the identity of Muslims.

I do think we are at a turning point. What are we trying to achieve with our social media accounts?

Are likes a means to and end or an end in itself.

Are we creating a legacy or riding a fleeting wave? As Muslims we are constantly reminded that we should think about our intention. 

Is there an ethical side to being a blogger?

I get it, they’ve grown a following and have bills to pay. But there is something about seeing a tummy flattening tea on a blogger’s account that just doesn’t sit right with me. Boo Tea and those a like have clearly gone for the spray and pray approach.

At what point does a blogger move from becoming someone whose Instagram is full of inspiration and a lifestyle to just real estate space for brands to advertise?

Go over to depop and you will find bloggers selling items that were previously on their pages with the caption “use my code nafisa10.” There is of course the argument of “they are supporting fledgling companies,” but even so shouldn’t there be some sort of ethics behind it?

At Amaliah we get DMs and messages from young girls telling us they want to be famous or want to be a blogger, to what end?

Will you use your platform or “influence” to drive an agenda or to create change?

Mariah idrissi, catapulted into the lime light after the H&M campaign I think is a great example. Some have thrown shade at her success but I say power to you Mariah. Mariah is constantly using her influence to further the mission of others and effect change. From public speaking to getting involved in charity campaigns. An example of someone who may not have a million followers but has influence as “the face of modest fashion.”

Last year this instagrammer took to YouTube to express that she didn’t feel that her blogger life was compatible with her fulfilling her deen. 

More recently this caption by Asha Luul sums up a lot of the conversations happening in the Muslim community at the moment. 

“So it’s 4am and I’ve come to the conclusion that I want my legacy to be more than a couple hijab/makeup tutorials on Instagram or banter on YouTube. This platform and the audience that comes with it is a blessing. Having the ability to have people like you and listen to you is a blessing from Allah swt right? It’s so easy to forget that one day you’ll meet your Maker and will be held accountable for your actions. Subhanallah it’s daunting to think that you might lead someone astray, or that someone misses salah because they’re watching your videos. What will you say to your Creator when He asks you what you did with your platform, with your influence? Oh I taught people how to do a sick winged liner? Gerrarahere man.” – Asha Luul

So it’s 4am and I’ve come to the conclusion that I want my legacy to be more than a couple hijab/makeup tutorials on Instagram or banter on YouTube. This platform and the audience that comes with it is a blessing. Having the ability to have people like you and listen to you is a blessing from Allah swt right? It’s so easy to forget that one day you’ll meet your Maker and will be held accountable for your actions. Subhanallah it’s daunting to think that you might lead someone astray, or that someone misses salah because they’re watching your videos. What will you say to your Creator when He asks you what you did with your platform, with your influence? Oh I taught people how to do a sick winged liner? Gerrarahere man

A post shared by Asha-Luul ???? Internetapreneur (@ashaeveryday) on Feb 19, 2017 at 7:53pm PST

Of course we can’t judge the intentions of anyone and who knows what good people are doing behind closed doors or in this case outside of their curated feeds. But I would urge everyone to think, are your likes a means to an end or an end in itself?