A court in Kuwait has transferred custody of two children from their mother to their father in a landmark ruling, concluding that the mother’s use of the children in social media advertising campaigns had negatively affected their education and overall welfare.
According to local media reports, the court found that the children had been featured in promotional content used to advertise products online. Judges determined that the activity had interfered with the children’s studies and was not in their best interests, leading the court to order a change in custody.
The ruling places the two children under their father’s care after the court determined that he was capable of providing a safe, stable and supportive family environment.
In its written decision, the court stressed that custody decisions are guided by the welfare of the child rather than the rights of either parent. It said transferring custody did not diminish the father’s parental responsibilities or remove the need for both parents to remain involved in raising their children.
The judges stated that successful parenting depends on cooperation between the parent granted custody and the legal guardian. They said both parents should continue to work together on matters affecting the children’s education, health and behaviour, while ensuring that important information is shared in a timely manner.
The court added that the children’s interests must remain the primary consideration in all decisions concerning their upbringing. After reviewing the evidence presented during the proceedings, it concluded that transferring custody to the father would better support their development and educational needs.
The decision follows concerns that the children’s participation in commercial social media content had become significant enough to affect their school performance. Although details of the advertising activities were not disclosed in the ruling, the court found that the impact on the children’s education justified changing the custody arrangement.
Family law cases involving children’s appearance on social media have attracted increasing attention in several countries as courts examine the balance between parental rights, commercial activities and child welfare. The growing popularity of online influencers and digital advertising has raised questions about the extent to which children should participate in sponsored content and how such activities may affect their privacy, education and well-being.
Legal experts note that courts generally base custody decisions on what they consider to be the best interests of the child, taking into account factors such as safety, stability, education and emotional development rather than focusing solely on parental disputes.
The Kuwait court’s decision reinforces that principle, finding that the father was better positioned to provide the environment the children need at this stage of their lives. Under the ruling, custody has been formally transferred to the father, while both parents are expected to continue cooperating on issues relating to the children’s upbringing in accordance with Kuwaiti law.
