TikTok has opened up dialogue about digital safety in its first-ever Safety Ambassadors Programme. The event brought together local celebrities to create awareness about internet safety in the age of information.
The fact is that digital safety and freedom have been at the periphery of discussions in Pakistan as majority of the people aren't very tech-savvy to understand the dangers that social media and the internet have, especially on adolescent minds. Therefore, awareness and regulations are a must to mitigate its wrong use. There have been countless instances where children are lured through the internet by traffickers, rapists and pedophiles. Such an initiative coming from a platform like TikTok is all the more necessary. The entertainment platform has high popularity across the world and in Pakistan, boasting over one billion monthly active users globally. With the newer generation wanting to pursue the line of content creation to make a living, the campaign will go a long way in teaching them how to be good and morally conscious content creators. The rise of misinformation has created much intolerance and ignorance around the world. Therefore, the youth must understand its consequences as well. Information needs to be authentic and verified by multiple sources before being posted online. It would also be rather useful to include relevant government officials to change their archaic mindset and make them understand the vastness that the internet holds.
With the world moving towards digitisation, Pakistan remains behind in still trying to understand the pros and cons of using social media platforms and producing content. If used wisely, it can help the country generate a lot of revenue and put the country on the map for potential investors. For this to happen, the government must get on board with an open mind and work towards encouraging such initiatives.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2023.
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