Noor bakhsh, Makran
After much consultation, the government has finally announced that the TikTok app has been banned in Pakistan. With millions of users within the country alone, the news has already created much outcry on social media. But before coming to a rash conclusion regarding the effectiveness of the ban it is important to understand the situation as a whole first.However, the (IHC) directive to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority that it should review its ban on the short video-sharing app TikTok is a much-needed call for preserving the right to freedom of expression and digital rights in an environment of intimidation. The chief justice raised some relevant and important questions about it and the decision was to ban the platform. The judge observed that the authority cannot use its powers because of its misuse by few users. On the other hand, apart from becoming one of the most famous online entertainment platforms in Pakistan, thousands of people rely solely on the app as a means of income through advertisements and viewership. Apart from that, since people are in control of the content they create, the phenomenon of content culture emerges. In this regard, the PTA has asserted that the app has failed to filter out “immoral and indecent” content, which is slowly corrupting the youth and leading them astray Therefore, I urge the government to come up with an alternate solution, instead of resorting to the useless act of outright bans.