Morocco’s child content creators: When online humor becomes psychological harm

You have probably laughed, while scrolling through social media, at videos featuring young Moroccan content creators, children whose clips have taken the internet by storm after being turned into memes and humorous edits.

One of the most widely circulated examples this summer involved «Lawla Lmo3anat», a young football content creator. A video in which he commented on Morocco’s World Cup exit became the meme of the season. One word, «Wadaâan», meaning «goodbye», delivered with an Amazigh-influenced accent, was reused in thousands of humorous clips and memes.

Lawla Lmo3anat is only one of many children who have unexpectedly found themselves turned into online jokes. Yet behind the apparent humor lies a more serious question: what happens when children lose control over their own image, and how can sudden online exposure affect their mental health and lives away from social media?

A child’s image beyond their control

For Najat Anwar, president of the «Don’t Touch My Child» organization, being a child content creator carries particular risks because published images and videos can reach a wide audience and escape the child’s control.

«Once something is published, children may lose control over their own image», she told Yabiladi.

The risks become more serious when a child’s image is transformed into memes and material for ridicule. The organization rejects the idea that offensive comments and repeated mockery can always be dismissed as harmless online humor.

«It is not simply a matter of passing comments or online “jokes”; it can become a genuine form of psychological violence that follows children around the clock and reaches them even inside their homes», Anwar explained.

This exposure can affect how children perceive themselves, particularly when their sense of worth becomes tied to online reactions. «Children should be taught from an early age that their worth is not measured by followers or likes and that abusive comments do not define who they are», she said.

Parents should also remain alert to signs that online abuse is affecting their child’s well-being. These may include withdrawal, sleep disturbances, anxiety, refusal to attend school or sudden behavioral changes.

«These signs must be taken seriously, with professional help sought when necessary», Anwar stressed.

Preventing exposure and responding to abuse

According to Anwar, protecting children requires both preventive measures and an appropriate response when harmful content begins circulating. The foundation of that protection is open communication at home.

«Children must feel that they can tell their parents what they are experiencing without fearing punishment or the immediate loss of access to their phones or the internet», she said.

As a preventive measure, families should limit the publication of images and information revealing details of a child’s private life. They should avoid disclosing the child’s school, movements or personal information, adjust privacy settings and monitor comments and accounts that contact them.

Once a child’s image or video has been turned into a meme or material for ridicule, families should avoid indiscriminate confrontations with the accounts responsible, Anwar warned. They should also refrain from reposting the offensive material to condemn it, as doing so could unintentionally increase its reach.

Instead, Anwar recommends documenting the abuse before taking steps to have the material removed. «The content should then be reported to the relevant platform, with a request for its removal», she advised.

If the content involves defamation, threats, blackmail or a violation of the child’s privacy, families should contact the competent authorities and take the appropriate legal steps.

At the same time, efforts to remove the content should not overshadow the child’s immediate emotional needs.

«The child must remain the primary concern. Children should be protected from constantly reading the comments, listened to and reassured that they are not responsible for what happened», Anwar said.

If the circulation of the material causes serious psychological distress, professional support becomes necessary.

What Moroccan law says

Alongside family protection and platform reporting, Moroccan law contains provisions that may apply to several forms of digital abuse against children, Anwar said. Article 447-1 of the Criminal Code criminalizes, in certain circumstances, the capture, recording, broadcasting or distribution, without consent, of private or confidential statements or information, as well as images of a person in a private setting.

Article 447-2 also criminalizes the publication or distribution, without consent, of manipulated content featuring a person’s words or images, as well as false allegations intended to violate someone’s privacy or defame them. Article 447-3 provides for harsher penalties when the victim is a minor.

However, Anwar believes the existence of these legal provisions is not sufficient to address the rapidly evolving forms of abuse children face online.

The organization is therefore calling for clearer legal protections for children in the digital sphere, faster removal of abusive content and accountability for those who exploit children’s images or violate their dignity. It also believes digital platforms must assume genuine responsibility.

«Children have a right to their image, privacy and dignity. These rights must be protected in the street, at school and at home, as well as behind a phone screen», Anwar concluded.