The dream of freedom is dead – long live freedom

Young adults in Pakistan, aged 18 to 25, are, at best, marked by an incessant need to accommodate instant gratification. Pakistan lies at the precipice of a massive breakthrough in technological advancement, but our society seems to be in a trance of consumerism laced around the consumption of social media, which defeats meaningful progress in all and any way. In recent times, there has been an influx of 'entertainment' or a form of entertainment nonetheless, in the form of short videos for satire, comic effect or from the fear of being left out. This has given birth to a new generation of people in Pakistan, which can be called the 'lost wanderers'. Let us explain the entirety of the 'lost wanderers'.

For generations, Pakistan has witnessed a purpose bigger than individualism and the struggle to profoundly focus on self-betterment. We have collectively focused on society; we tend to better the lives of others and have leisurely ignored the mistakes of others. But today our generations have shifted, from the blessing of technology to its curse. Young adults, as hopeful as they should be, are infected by the bias of instant gratification and become a piece in a massive cog of consumerism. Their acts, words, actions, activities and musings lie only in satisfying their own accord or, simply put, their own ego.

But human nature is nurtured by such satisfaction, so the question must arise as to why it could bring forth our destruction. For that, we must understand the concept of being lost. Generations without a bigger purpose or a greater-than-life aspiration can be conquered through whimsical acts of debauchery with wit. Without aspirations which inspire a sense of unification, one cannot understand purposes beyond one's own self. And must then be open to any possibilities. When one is open to any possibilities, the desire to become someone peaks. And a no one who wants to be a someone is a threat to everyone.

Thus, young adults pave the way for fame, which they desire not through their hearts, but only through their surroundings, where others feed their ego. This has given rise, in Pakistan, to the heightened consumption of short videos, illicit material and massively altered content. We have broken the barrier – of the consumption of porn. The thoughts of millions lie in the balance in Pakistan through mere videos of detriment and objectification. The rest are reassured by family and friends by posting pictures.

Can a nation or set of people achieve supremacy in life who congratulate one another on posting pictures or merely making videos of nature? Humans are designed to inherit a sense of fame and pride with every act and understand that it is a need. But, without direction, the need itself becomes a threat to others. As a result, we see generations involving themselves in acts of debauchery, drug addictions and a baseless need to pleasure the body with no direction. I wonder why it is so easy for a generation to run after anything that is thrown their way. Is it because the parents of the generations ran after news media outlets, and we are overcome by nostalgia? Is it because our sense of direction is so lost that every car now needs a flashing warning light? Or is it because we have fundamentally stopped ourselves from understanding each other and let our egos define us?

There could be a million answers to a million questions, but the fact that we consume more social media, illicit material and instant gratification clips more than the world is a cause for alarm. Such is the lost wanderer. Always in the desert, always wanting more, always trying to find the green. But not understanding that the green always existed within. Now, the time is upon our young adults to leave this identity built on loose threads. It is time to understand that we were dealt a painstakingly unfortunate hand by our elders. The real lost wanderers are not young adults, but the generations who birthed, nurtured and nourished them into existence. And now, we must purpose ourselves once again into collectivism and assimilate back to our roots. And in doing so, escape the shackles of baseless ego, tightening the noose through instant gratification. And only then accept that we may be free.