KARACHI:
It all started with the Trump administration imposing a ban on TikTok following the American policy to impose restrictions on China. India followed suit in January 2019, after relations with China became tense following a border skirmish. Why should a few within the elite, most of them with split loyalties, be allowed to single out TikTok in Pakistan?
TikTok is the most popular social media application amongst the youth and common people who use it to vent their anger against government policies, social issues, and for entertainment. Like other social media sites, it has sometimes been abused, despite the efforts of Byte Dance, the Chinese creators, who have emphasised on respecting local customs, traditions and values. TikTok has over 20 million users in Pakistan, with many earning a handsome amount. It has been used to promote awareness about Covid-19 effectively even though its content is limited to a few minutes.
Neither TikTok nor other social applications should be held responsible for the immorality that afflicts our society. The failure, if any, lies with state institutions responsible for law enforcement, prosecution and illiteracy along with the decadent hypocritic mindset of the ruling elite. While Islam emphasises upon equality and justice for all, we still witness traditions of Karo Kari, acid attacks and sexual harassment. The law is misused for the benefit of the affluent. Unlike other social media sites which are owned by companies located in the West, TikTok has never been involved in an Islamophobia campaign, nor in blasphemous content. Therefore, the decision to ban it is nothing short of absurd.
Malik Tariq Ali
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2021.
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