Tiktok has been facing quite the backlash in Pakistan for indecent content, and PTA has finally taken notice of all the complaints and banned the video-sharing app.
In view of number of complaints from different segments of the society against immoral/indecent content on the video sharing application TikTok, pic.twitter.com/Vmp5umixeL
— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) October 9, 2020
According to PTA, they gave the developers a considerable amount of time to filter the immoral content, when it failed to comply, PTA banned the app altogether. And people have a lot to say!
Immoral content is not on tiktok, it’s embedded in our sexist society where women cannot wear yoga pants on tv or drive at night, & children are picked up & assaulted. Have deteriorated so much. Look what’s happening in madrassas, in open public spaces- the problem is NOT tiktok.
— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) October 9, 2020
Iqrar-ul-Hassan shared how banning was not a solution:
میرا نہ تو ٹِک ٹاک پر کوئی(اصلی) اکاؤنٹ تھا اور نہ مستقبل قریب میں ایسا کوئی ارادہ تھا لیکن اس کے باوجود میں سمجھتا ہوں کہ کسی بھی چیز پر پابندی مسئلے کا حل نہیں ہوتی، کسی بھی پلیٹ فارم پر موجود خامیوں کو دور کرنے کی کوشش کرنی چاہئیے نہ کہ مکمل طور پر اسے بند کر دیا جائے
— Iqrar ul Hassan Syed (@iqrarulhassan) October 9, 2020
Many were calling it a bad decision:
This is a bad decision, TikTok is a unique app in that it gives anyone the opportunity to get big and do something with their reach, where else would an average Pakistani make content and gain a following? Like that sindhi guy making baked bricks in his village with 1M followers. https://t.co/kz9GRNHTFM
— Abdul Muhaymin (@abbddiiii) October 9, 2020
People were calling it regressive degeneration:
From digital Pakistan to Regressive, degeneration. Well done @PTIofficial https://t.co/AHjPDGEsdt
— No! to Parrotriarchy (@Hq_b_tweetin) October 9, 2020
People were sharing how they knew people who were solely earning via Tiktok:
My friend left his job to start an ad business on TikTok. He was employing people & making Pakistanis on TikTok money. Today the PTI government because they cannot control content reflecting people’s anger at poor governance banned TikTok and destroyed his livelihood #unbantiktok pic.twitter.com/7Qr6y1Xtfy
— H U Khan (@Huk06) October 9, 2020
Worth a try?
If we submit complaints against @PTAofficialpk will they shut themselves down? Dumb fucks just pulling ideas out of their asses. Phir jaahil kehte hain hamare mulk mein office kholo Netflix Google etc se. Jaahil tareen qaum aur unke ullu ke patthay hukmaraan. https://t.co/b95QIMZH0r
— Ali (@themaholupper) October 9, 2020
People were fearing that banning Tiktok was just the beginning:
I fear the #TikTok ban might be the beginning. Many other platforms could be in the line of fire given the grounds.
— Khurram Husain (@KhurramHusain) October 9, 2020
Many found that this was the country denying rights to it’s citizens:
PAKISTAN: In the name of a campaign against vulgarity, people are being denied the right to express themselves online. The #TikTokBan comes against a backdrop where voices are muted on television, columns vanish from newspapers, websites are blocked and television ads banned.
— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) October 9, 2020
People weren’t amused:
Fucking clowns. That’s what happens when only 1 institution is in control of everything. https://t.co/l8OVmS3mSq
— Hassan Raza (@hassanr423) October 9, 2020
People were calling it a violation of their freedom of expression:
So you can’t find immoral or indecent content anywhere else on the internet or mainstream media for that matter? Shitty logic as always and a. Blatant violation of our freedom of thought and expression.#tiktokbanned https://t.co/74Huu9teEY
— Arhum Tariq Butt (@Arhumtb) October 9, 2020
People found the ban to be unfair:
I never used Tittok, but this is next level shit from PTA. They should focus on bringing digital rights &telecom reforms in Pak. All they are doing is banning apps for no particular reasons. This is what happens when you bring people in charge with no ties to the field at all. https://t.co/LhKCpBnu11
— Awais Ahmad (@awaisqarniee) October 9, 2020
People were thanking their favourite tiktokers:
U can criticize them for so many reasons but they provide us so many entertainment 🔥 …. Thankyew all Ticktokers for making our quarantine special ❤️ #TikTok pic.twitter.com/V3fyB67YCj
— Mian Omer🇵🇰 (@Iam_Mian1) October 9, 2020
People were feeling sad for Jannat Mirza who recently became the first Tiktoker in the country to cross 10M followers:
Feeling sad for Jannat Mirza who recently got 10 million Followers on #TikTok pic.twitter.com/Cdg5SQw9AX
— رمشا طاھر (@rimshatahir54) October 9, 2020
Jannat Mirza felling sad with 10 million others 😂❤️ #TikTok #tiktokban pic.twitter.com/irdoN5whNL
— Mohsinfarooq (@BwnMohsin) October 9, 2020
People were waiting for twitter to be banned next:
Can’t wait for Twitter to get banned too just so we can get rid of this godforsaken app. https://t.co/BDYdXmRLUb
— 19x (@FanahBaqah) October 9, 2020
People had questions:
This isn’t a thing!
Why should we ban apps?
Who’re you to ban?
No laws, Just in the name of immorality and other content you are banning @tiktok_us ?#UnbanTiktok. https://t.co/It79yMTfqs— Malik Areeb (@MalikAreeb27) October 9, 2020
Kis kis ko ban karogay?
This entire society is immoral and indecent. Ban it as well https://t.co/POyVcRTCqn
— A (@_iamthelegend) October 9, 2020
🤷♀️
Is there any chance of banning….umm…..PTA?
Also, what segments of the society? Who decides what’s indecent/immoral content? Mullahs? Instagramable elityas? https://t.co/KeD0M1B5ph
— Harris Gondal (@dontharrisme) October 9, 2020
Please 🥺
• PTA please ban toxic people from our life 🥺 https://t.co/fQTXFF6zOl
— îق𝑟𝑎𝑎👅 (@gostudyiqraa) October 9, 2020
Shots were fired:
In view of number of complaints from different segments of the society against immoral/indecent content on the video sharing application TikTok, pic.twitter.com/Vmp5umixeL
— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) October 9, 2020
And while many people were saddened by the decision, others were lauding PTA:
#TikTok
Whole Nation To PTA After They Ban #TikTok 🔥🇵🇰💯 pic.twitter.com/3Jxko5okBA— Ahmed Raza (@AhmedRa86471570) October 9, 2020
People were thankful for the ban:
Thank God, We are free from this virus now 🙏 #TikTok pic.twitter.com/STDCf1sEqr
— Usama Imtiaz 🇵🇰 (@UsamaImtiaz37) October 9, 2020
Memers and Youtubers were celebrating:
#TikTok ban in Pakistan.
Meanwhile Memer’s & Youtuber’s: pic.twitter.com/g1B6P0JF5v
— JahanZaib (@JahanZaibb_) October 9, 2020
Memer’s and Youtuber’s rightnow after listening #TikTok ban news: pic.twitter.com/Ov0MdmxYVQ
— ＳＨＥＨＢＡＺ (@choco_boy10) October 9, 2020
People across the border could relate:
#TikTok
Divided by border.
United by making tiktokers jobless. pic.twitter.com/zfpGIqetxZ— Akash K. Verma (@Akash_sept11) October 9, 2020
mean while Indians in 🇮🇳🤣😂😂 #TikTok pic.twitter.com/pGCAzIrwoG
— 🇮🇳Àtúl👻Harí 🇮🇳 (@atulhari10) October 9, 2020
People had ample of memes:
Don’t Mess with my PM:#TikTok pic.twitter.com/iJfsYYeq9n
— JahanZaib (@JahanZaibb_) October 9, 2020
People were calling it the biggest news of the day:
The biggest news today #TikTok is now Ban in Pakistan . pic.twitter.com/Kmvhqgojrd
— _H@rîs_ (@imharis_10) October 9, 2020
What are your thoughts on the ban? Let us know in the comments below!