TikTok: A Curse In Our Society, Perplexed By Misguided Dreams

TikTok. is a curse in our society that is confused by dreams that aren't right, aspirations that aren't realized, and our country's constant restrictions on the quest of its citizens for upward mobility.TikTok and other social media platforms have become the prime purveyors of Pakistani dreams and aspirations, offering an easy path to fame, popularity, fortune, and an escape from reality for millions of working-class youth around the country. For a country like Pakistan, with a massive youth bulge and an abominable economy unable to provide jobs and social opportunities on par with the size of its population, TikTok has instilled in a significant part of our young generation, who feel they cannot fulfill their potentials as individuals within the existing framework of society; a false hope that they can achieve their dreams through becoming superstars who are admired by millions in the virtual realm.

One aspect of our lives that was supposed to change with the advent of device culture, digital media, and virtual reality is human interaction. The cherished virtual world of online social interactions where one could express and explore his or her “true self” was meant to replace the cold, superficial and inhuman interactions we have in real life.

The content production of Pakistani TikTok users reveals many contradictions in our society. This fetishization of the body can be seen as an attempt by young people to assert their identity. It could also be seen as a way for them to show off their bodies and sexuality in order to attract others' attention or get more followers online—which is what most people do on TikTok anyway!

But if we look at it from another angle: these attempts at asserting one's identity through this kind of prancing around with one's clothes off might actually be a sign of weakness rather than strength; a sign that young people have lost touch with reality and are trying desperately to reconnect.

The use of TikTok videos by Pakistani youth is reflective of their state of mind in a certain way. In recent decades, our society has experienced great turmoil: extremism and terrorism, a growing chasm between the rural and urban populations, the rise in sectarianism, and religious intolerance. The lives of young people have been significantly affected. This state of uncertainty has led to inner conflicts and confusion, which manifested in self-indulgence and escapism as a form of resistance to social pressures.