Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has formally joined the social media site TikTok in a ground-breaking move to adapt to the evolving nature of political campaigning and to interact with the ever-expanding youth population.
The choice was made in light of the nation’s youth’s exceptional political savvy and presentation abilities, as well as their intense interest in PTI’s political platform. Chairman Imran Khan, who has a reputation for using technology to reach a wide audience, made his TikTok debut with a video that gained over 12 million views in the first few hours and more than 680,000 followers in a lightning-fast period of time.
“TikTok provides an incredible opportunity to directly connect with the vibrant and tech-savvy youth of Pakistan,” the PTI leader said in expressing his enthusiasm for the site. We can have deep conversations on the future of our country by using TikTok, in my opinion, because of their engagement and enthusiasm.
Chairman Imran Khan is joining TikTok today to connect with the Youth of Pakistan who has impressed him with their political acumen and presentation skills. Link to TikTok profile: https://t.co/5S7wpXkvsK#ComingSoonOnTikTok pic.twitter.com/If7aOpRGP7
— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 17, 2023
With some even thinking that TikTok may replace conventional door-to-door campaigns in the forthcoming elections, political pundits are celebrating this decision as a big step towards modernizing political campaigning. PTI’s presence on TikTok may give them a competitive advantage in reaching a larger and younger audience as social media continues to play a significant role in forming political attitudes.
The public’s reactions to the party’s decision to join TikTok were divided. Some praised the party’s creative outreach strategy, while others expressed concern about the possible trivialization of important political debates on a site recognized for its entertaining and brief content.
The long-term effects of this decision have not yet been assessed, but one thing is certain: Chairman Imran Khan’s use of TikTok has spurred a new wave of political engagement and is likely to change the way political campaigns are conducted in Pakistan in the future.
