THE route to a nation’s ascent is uncomplicated. Cultivate the cognitive prowess of its citizens. Conversely, the trajectory leading to a nation’s decline is equally direct: squander the youth’s invaluable years and precious time in frivolous pursuits. Ultimately, the arbiter of a nation’s triumph is its youths. Should the youth evolve into a national treasure, a nation surpasses all others. However, if the youth metamorphose into thoughtless and insipid individuals, nations encounter a descent that proves insurmountable despite years of endeavor.
The pivotal contribution of the younger generation is paramount in shaping a nation’s magnificence. The annals of global history furnish ample proof, offering valuable insights into the ascent and decline of civilizations. The global landscape undergoes continual transformation in the spheres of technology and economics. History imparts a fundamental lesson: achieve indispensability and triumph in the competition. What does it mean to become indispensable? It is a concept that distinguishes the privileged from the underprivileged. Fortunate are those nations where the younger generation directs their attention towards cognitive and intellectual advancement, acquiring the knowledge essential for earning global esteem.
However, can the process of acquiring knowledge be spontaneous? No, indeed, it is a societal characteristic passed down from one generation to the next. The societal conventions and standards play a substantial role in establishing a nation’s value on the global stage. Our prevalent societal patterns have elevated TikTok to the status of the most influential application for today’s youth, enthralling them in a bewildering yet captivating fashion. The perpetual inquiry into our descent into the abyss of national decline yields an evident cause—the continuous decline of the youth in terms of morality and intellect. What does TikTok contribute to this nation? It convinces our youth that the effortless path to fame and financial gain is through videos devoid of substantive content.
Even more astonishing is that TikTok has become a convenient avenue for monetary gain. With the advent of these social media platforms, the imperative to cultivate critical thinking and intellect has waned. Throughout history, nations have achieved glory not by squandering time on futile activities but by steadfastly focusing on loftier goals. The ascent of the Spartans was not coincidental but a relentless endeavour to excel in skills pivotal for world dominance. They engaged their youths from the early stages of development in activities essential to maintaining global supremacy. Military training was mandatory and societal esteem was contingent on a Spartan’s skill level in warfare, leading to enduring success in history.
History also imparts a lesson that Muslims ruled the world by prioritizing growth in wisdom and knowledge. In the era of Khalifa Haroon-ur-Rahseed, the location for a hospital was selected after meticulous research into where a piece of meat takes the maximum time to rot. This wisdom was acquired through the jewel of knowledge. The House of Wisdom in Baghdad housed intellectuals from across the world, contributing to the rich educational history that facilitated Muslim rule. In the contemporary world, where nations vie for a competitive edge, our youth is immersed in making videos containing nothing but trash. Analysis reveals how far behind we have fallen in the race of technology and economy, and the reason lies in allowing our youth to adopt a path of ruin.
Today, the USA and China compete vigorously for economic and technological advantage, investing heavily in preparing their human resources for AI dominance. These two countries lead the world in publishing research papers in the domain of AI. The constant struggle for an advantage in the chip war between these nations aims to control global technology networks, as all gadgets require chips to function. The UK aims to produce 1000 PHDs in the domain of AI. France targets making its capital the AI hub of the world, while India has chosen space exploration, preparing its young generation to lead in space technology. Historical and current examples testify to the need for serious contemplation about the direction of our youth.
With youth aspiring to become TikTok sensations, the nation’s trajectory risks being populated by individuals lacking genuine skills, heading toward an iceberg of economic, political, and social collapse. An education emergency is imperative. Regardless of the utility of social media platforms, we must decide today whether we can afford to produce minds devoid of wisdom and leadership ability. The repercussions are hard to fathom. Where will we stand in the world fifty years from now? Will TikTok celebrities enable our dominance in technological, political, and economic domains? Unlikely. Nations neglecting investment in their well-being face undesirable consequences. The well-being of nations lies in their development in areas that bring them glory globally—science, technology, and the economy.
It is a disheartening reality that we have become a nation that revels in entertainment. The current priorities of our youths indicate a failure to instill a sense of purpose for societal respect. It is our national responsibility to engage the youth in activities conducive to national ascendancy. Just as nations that shaped history, we must become a nation that forges its path toward glory. True leadership is essential. Lee Kaun Yew set the precedent for the rise of his nation, never allowing the youth to engage in futile activities. Today, Singapore ranks among the world’s best economies.
Furthermore, our youths must use TikTok constructively. Instead of producing videos with no valuable lessons, they should focus on spreading knowledge and wisdom by recounting the tales of our glorious past. TikTok itself is neither inherently good nor bad; it is the unwarranted use causing negative implications for society, pushing our nation toward demise and destruction. Today, we need to guide our youths and set a rewarding destination for them. It is alarming that the importance of education is fading from the minds of our youths, leading them down a path of acquiring fame without a containing brain and wisdom. It is time to awaken and set things in the right direction. Failure to recognize the urgency of this matter ensures our nation’s continued descent on the path of intellectual and moral decline.
—The writer is CSS Officer, based in Sargodha.
Email: [email protected]
views expressed are writer’s own.
