Dealing with youngsters' TikTok obsession

We now live in the age of technology. Today, everyone from a small child to an adult seems to be addicted to social media platforms. Whether you love it or hate it, TikTok is one of the most popular and fast-growing short video sharing platforms in Bangladesh. It is one of the most downloaded non-game apps in the country. Everyone is trying to become a famous TikToker by performing stunts every day. Unfortunately, many people have lost their lives because of seeking publicity. Our adventure-loving youths are engrossed in it and expect to have a huge fan following. Even our children are addicted to this app. This addiction also has psychological effects on mental health, causing anxiety, irritation, and sadness. And there is a high risk of suicide.

Therefore, there is a need to fix an age limit for its use and parents should set a screen time for their children. Entertainment is a fundamental right to a human being. But at the same time, it should be healthy and ethical. Many people play outdoor sports for fun. It also keeps them fit and strong-willed in mentality. At leisure times, some people love to read books. This is a good hobby. Watching movies, cartoon, stage play or sports is also known as quality pastimes. But when in the name of creating video contents for TikTok, young people start wearing indecent clothes, calling names or speaking roughly and behaving offensively, it cannot be accepted. It is because of TikTok addiction, today's youths are losing their interest in reading and other healthy recreational activities. So, we urge the authorities concerned to filter these video contents. Also, we should make young people understand that they are getting addicted to the app that adds nothing of value to their thought process but only waste their precious time.

Sirazi Shahjahan,

Malibagh, Dhaka,

mshaju001@gmail.com