Art has been one of the most important phenomenon of survival in the human history, apart from basic needs art has significantly played its role in flourishing the human race throughout the history. Many great nations which ruled the world for centuries, apart from their strong military and political roots, had strong artistic cultures as well, which shaped the mindsets of the people and revolutionized their thinking. Their artists had high values and through different forms of arts including, painting, music, writing and films they set examples for the entire humanity. For Example, role of art and artists in Renaissance was remarkable. The Renaissance was a time in European history that roughly spanned the 14th and 17th century and is recognised as a significant period of intellectual and cultural progress. The word “Renaissance,” which means “rebirth,” describes a resurgence of interest in the ancient Greek and Roman arts, literature, and academic disciplines.
The ideology of humanism, which emphasises the value and potential of individuals, experienced a resurgence during the Renaissance, along with a rise in interest in the natural world and scientific research. The time also saw important advancements in the visual arts, including as painting, sculpture, and architecture, with some of the most well-known works of art being produced by artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. All these artists promoted the idea of individualism and led the young minds come out of the dark ages of barbarism and emerge as a civilised nation. Similarly, German history had some of the greatest artists of all times who were famous philosophers as well.
On the flip side, Art has lost its importance in the contemporary society largely because of the quality of the content and the rise of the artists that are emerging from the platform of TikTok with little to no concept of talent and the creativity. The application itself was created exactly in accordance with modern human psychology, which lacks the tolerance towards lengthy content and has a very short attention span. TikTok’s video format is designed to be short and engaging, with most videos lasting between 15 and 60 seconds. This format is ideal for capturing and holding users’ attention, as it requires less commitment and is easy to consume.
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TikTok can promote dopamine release in the brain, which is a key factor in its addictive nature. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and a happiness hormones that are involved in the brain’s reward system, and it plays a critical role in regulating feelings of pleasure, motivation, and reward. When we engage in pleasurable activities, such as watching entertaining videos on TikTok or receiving likes and comments on our posts, dopamine is released in the brain, leading to feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. This consistent dopamine rush has led to production of depressed and deluded minds due to the obsession of this application.
Although TikTok undoubtedly played a role in the emergence of celebrity culture and the emergence of new online celebrities, it is challenging to claim that it was directly responsible for the establishment of a “corrupted celebrity class.” TikTok has its share of contentious personalities and scandals, much like any other form of media or entertainment, but it is not necessarily unique in this regard.
But there are worries about the celebrity culture on TikTok’s possible detrimental impacts, especially for young people who might idolise and imitate these online stars. Some opponents contend that the quest for fame and success on TikTok might encourage materialism, superficiality, and vanity as well as problems with mental health and body image.
In addition, some of the most well-known TikTok stars have been accused of endorsing questionable material or acting unethically, which may have an adverse effect on their young fans. For instance, some TikTok celebrities have come under fire for endorsing unhealthy diets and cosmetic surgeries, as well as for participating in cyberbullying and other undesirable behaviours.
Many young people have used TikTok as an easy way to get famous without doing much effort or without possessing any worthwhile talent. One of the common examples is about a girl getting famous for dancing on her friend’s wedding and becoming an internet sensation overnight. Similarly a Pakistani TikTok star who does nothing but walks on songs, has more than 4 million followers. These examples present the choice of people who endorse such content that lacks originality and creativity.
Like any other social media site, TikTok has the potential to affect how people view physical attractiveness and beauty standards, especially among young people who use the app often. Numerous TikTok artists utilise the site to display their sense of style, fashion, and beauty, which can help to establish new beauty standards and trends.
The theme of TikTok application is a manifestation of a famous philosophical work by a French philosopher Jean Baudrillard, published in 1981 named “Simulacra and Simulation”.
The term “simulacra” refers to a copy or imitation that has no original. In Baudrillard’s view, our society is filled with simulacra, or copies of reality that have no connection to the original. These simulacra are often created for the purposes of control and manipulation, as they can be used to shape our perceptions and beliefs. TikTok has no originality in its content, but it is a copy of copy. Young people inspired by the simulation that was menifested by the film stars in the movies and heroes has created its copy through the platform of TikTok.
TikTok culture has been so deep rooted in our society that TikTok stars are being treated as role models and they are hired by organizations to run their campaigns. Not just the brands and the organizations even government has shown much appreciation to the TikTok celebrities by requesting them to spread awareness about different contemporary issues such as during covid-19, governor of Punjab met the TikTok stars and assigned them this task of making people aware about covid-19 through their content. Moreover, all the political parties has got their own TikTok stars who actively promote their narrative through this application and considering the large audience, it has proved an effective and useful mean of working on their political ideology.
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In conclusion, TikTok has been linked to a variety of unfavourable outcomes despite becoming a well-liked platform for entertainment and social engagement. These include the potential for addiction and time wastage, the promotion of unhealthy beauty standards and body image problems, the development of a shallow and superficial celebrity culture, the creation of a distorted sense of reality, and the desire for instant gratification.
Additionally, TikTok has come under fire for its ability to jeopardise user security and privacy, as well as for its involvement in the dissemination of false information and extremist content.
As a result, it’s critical for users to be aware of these harmful impacts and take action to counteract them. Some suggestions include setting screen time limits, searching out uplifting and instructive content, and exercising caution when disclosing personal information online.
While using TikTok can be a fun and interesting method to meet new people and express one’s creativity, it’s crucial to be aware of the risks involved and to use it responsibly. By doing this, we can make sure that we can take advantage of this platform’s positive aspects while avoiding its drawbacks.
