TikTok, one of the most popular social media platforms among teens and tweens, is a place that allows people to exercise their creativity and expression. Its appeal is universal, irrespective of what class or creed you belong to.
It has helped many to get their talents like singing, acting and dancing recognized by others. They have garnered millions of followers and hold a celebrity status as well.
But apparently, this app is about to get banned in Pakistan. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has given a ‘final warning’ to TikTok on the grounds of ‘immoral, obscene and vulgar content’.
On complaints of immoral, obscene and vulgar content, streaming app Bigo has been blocked in Pakistan. TikTok has also been served with final warning on same grounds.
— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) July 20, 2020
Here are the problems behind this statement.
‘Obscenity’ is everywhere
The reason behind this ‘warning’ is that PTA believes TikTok is responsible for spreading obscenity in the youth. But isn’t that the case with other social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat?
People have been acting up on social media since times immemorial, even when there were just chat rooms and messengers like Orkut and mIRC. And at this point in time, we are pretty sure that a lot of girls (and boys) have faced incidents of flashing or inappropriate content on social networking sites such as Facebook and Instagram.
So why are we putting all the blame on one application, which is relatively new in Pakistan, and is giving a voice to even the very poor segments of society?
ALSO READ
Meera Jee Appeals for Financial Help [Video]
TikTok Ban Won’t Solve Anything
Secondly, TikTok is used by the poor, middle class, and elite alike. And while there might be some users who are abusing this platform for ‘obscene’ and ‘vulgar’ acts, it has given voice to people from poor backgrounds. Let us show you what we mean by this.
Lovedddd this guy – cutesttttt 😍😄 https://t.co/maJLNxWbBh
— Nousheen Irfan Khan (@nousheen_irfan) July 23, 2020
It is a place for everybody. Just recently, a Baloch laborer gained over 3 million followers and 100 million likes on TikTok. It doesn’t matter that he is a laborer, he just came to entertain and people loved him. Although we need to give him the attention he deserves, we can’t deny the fact that there are many other hidden gems like him on the platform.
Many People Survive on TikTok
Thirdly, TikTok has transformed the economic fortunes of hundreds of people in the country. Like it or not, but people have resorted to this platform to earn money. All this at a time when a severe economic recession threatens Pakistan.
And there is nothing bad or shameful about it. They are making wholesome content to entertain others and people like them too.
COVID-19 has taken a toll on economies all over the world and Pakistan also became vulnerable to it. So many lost their jobs, others suffered a paycut and if some of these people have turned to TikTok, got endorsements and are making money then it’s a really good thing.
So many Pakistanis have found livelihood on Tiktok. I dont know who is advising PTA, these bans are so arbitrary and counterproductive.
Btw, one can subscribe to porn via email too. So ban email? Ban the whole internet! https://t.co/owraebpzLa— Waqas (@worqas) July 21, 2020
Unless the government is going to get these people proper jobs that pay well, or unless they have a better alternative to TikTok, banning it will not solve anything.
Some Pakistani journalists also put forward an ‘idea’ of developing our own alternatives to these apps.
With geo strategic shift, #Pakistan should develop its own apps like #China & ban #US based apps like #YouTube #Facebook etc which are tools of data wars and used in league with #India to target #CPEC as well.
US India latest alignment has consequences for Pakistan https://t.co/mdYMF5SmlL— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) July 23, 2020
However, professionals who actually know the tech scene inside out, have this to say about such harebrained schemes:
The same Pakistan that runs SSL-less Gov websites, will develop clones for YouTube/Facebook et al. The same Pakistan that for all intents and purposes cannot come up with a digital payment mechanism for 100,000s of its freelancers to make their lives easier. https://t.co/hbS9HgMENB
— Saad (@kursed) July 23, 2020
And why are we promoting this ban culture so much? First PUBG, then TikTok and now the Supreme Court has hinted at banning YouTube. Where in this world is Pakistan going?
Are we really living in the 21st century? Make better cyber laws, regulate the censorship instead of taking the country and its people back to the Medieval Age. If people are concerned that their children are watching ‘inappropriate’ stuff on TikTok, good parenting and schooling is the answer. Educate them, tell them right from wrong, and then trust in them to decide the right thing for themselves.
Parents Need to be Responsible
Bad parenting is to blame here. Many parents want to rid themselves of their responsibilities every now and then so they buy their kids smartphones to keep them ‘busy’. They don’t even check what their children are doing on these gadgets and then blame an app for ruining their child. The problem is not in the app but in today’s parents who want some sort of freedom by ignoring their child.
In the 80s and even 90s, parents would moderate computer/TV hours. But now, we don’t see that anymore. Children are on their phones/tablets for more than half of the day and parents don’t know what they are doing with these devices.
India has banned TikTok and USA is on its way to ban it because they have political and economical strains with China. These two countries have the technological prowess and manpower to build alternatives to them.
But Pakistan? Talk about cutting off one’s nose to spite their own face.
ALSO READ
