The Deception of TikTok: Youth, Vulgarity Culture, and Moral Decline
By: Nisar Khan
Pakistani society, once proud of its traditions, values, and morality, is now facing a confusing identity crisis. Where once respect for elders, modesty, and family values were the core of our culture, today that identity is fading under the influence of platforms like TikTok. A society that stood for dignity is now chasing virality.
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TikTok: Creative Expression or Ethical Collapse?
TikTok emerged as a platform for youth to express creativity, but sadly, it is now largely used for shallow antics, dance videos, and the spread of foul language.
According to a 2024 report, there are over 54.4 million TikTok users in Pakistan, with 78% male and 22% female users. This shows that TikTok is not just an app—it’s a movement. The question is: Are we creating more TikTokers or morally declining individuals?
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Who Are the Role Models?
Our youth now look up to individuals who sell their dignity and modesty for a few seconds of fame. Scrolling endlessly, laughing at inappropriate jokes, and normalizing revealing content have become the new routine.
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Is Swearing Now Entertainment?
This trend has gone beyond social media—it is impacting our entire social structure. Swearing is now part of everyday speech, often glorified as “freedom of expression” or “comedy.”
When a TikToker uses vulgar words, or gamers insult each other with offensive language, it’s a reflection of their upbringing, environment, and our society’s failure.
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A Crisis of Ethics and Upbringing
Parents and educational institutions are failing in moral education. Children are trying to act like adults while girls are forced to take on responsibilities beyond their age. Respect, modesty, and decent language are becoming rare.
When trends become more important than morals, society stands on the edge of destruction.
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Mental Health Impacts on Youth
Constant exposure to social media and screen addiction is affecting the youth’s attention, education, and family life. More importantly, it is damaging their self-esteem and mental health.
Senseless challenges, inappropriate humor, and loud laughter over abuse—these are signs of our moral breakdown.
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Swearing: Humor or Social Disaster?
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“A true Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands other Muslims are safe.”
When we make swearing part of entertainment, we not only lose the grace of our speech, but we also send a dangerous message to youth: that rudeness is acceptable. This weakens collective morality and leads society toward insensitivity, mistrust, and intolerance.
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Finding the Solution
It’s time to take this trend seriously. We need to:
Encourage parents to focus on moral upbringing.
Make ethics, decency, and responsible social media use a part of education.
Ensure government-level monitoring of online content.
Provide healthy, purposeful entertainment alternatives for youth.
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Conclusion
TikTok and similar platforms don’t have to be tools of destruction. If used properly, they can offer powerful opportunities for youth. But if we ignore this moral decline, the future will be filled with viral clips—not values.
