I AM a videographer by profession. At least that is what I used to be until the pandemic hit the country hard. Not only did I end up losing a stable job, but also exhausted all my savings while looking for an alternative. It was then that someone suggested to me the option of TikTok to try my luck on.

I did manage to become a successful content creator on TikTok even though, on the downside, I had to put up with taunts of being a ‘a mere TikToker’. I was looked down upon. Seriously. And those doing it included some of my own family members. Well, at least the distant ones.

It made me work harder to earn their respect for which I used to work hard to create videos that were both thought-provoking and insightful. Unfortunately, to the outsiders, I continued to be ‘a mere TikToker’ who for sure had nothing better to do with and in life. This was as far from truth as it could ever be.

I would indulge in brain-storming sessions with my fellow content creators to make sure that the masses got entertaining yet informative videos. However, with the ban on the app, not only have I been robbed of my means of earning, but a platform has been taken away from me that allowed me to be as creative as I could be. I had earned the respect of some, and I was sure I could turn many more over, but the ban has sucked the life out of me.

People need to understand that reducing TikTok to just a medium where one could find lip-synced videos to watch is a disservice to the honest content creators. There is no dearth of them. It is just about what you, the viewer, want to watch. We put our heart and soul into creating content in order for the brands to approach us for paid partnerships. I have lost my job once, and I don’t want to end up losing another permanently.

Name withheld on request
Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2021