Tiktok Generation and Crime Psychology.Recently, there has been a lot of talk about teen gangs and the use of Tictok and Like apps. Earlier this year, a number of our national newspapers published investigative reports in the form of a series on the crimes of juvenile gangs and their reckless activities.
Last year and this year, our media reported that hundreds of juvenile gangs were involved in criminal activities in Dhaka and Chittagong. Members of the juvenile gang have been charged with using and carrying illegal weapons, using and selling drugs, terrorism and extortion. Most of the juvenile gangs are reported to be directly involved in other crimes at the local level, including drug use.
Reviewing the crime statistics of Bangladesh over the past few years, it can be seen that our children and adolescents under the age of 18 are involved in various types of crime. Almost every day, teenagers are reported to be involved in crimes such as murder, rape, extortion, robbery, drug use and drug trafficking. Even some events are very thrilling and scary.
For some time now, there has been widespread criticism of the use of TikTok and Like apps in Bangladesh. 
Usually teenagers and young adults use these apps to express their feelings and various activities online through videos. Recently, those apps are becoming very popular in India as well as Bangladesh. Many people are trying to earn star fame and money by using those apps. Recently arrested tiktok star Apu (known as Apu Bhai) is being widely criticized for his activities and videos.
As can be seen from his video, Apu has gained a reputation as a ‘tickling star’ through the use of obscene language, obscene dialogue, distorted body language and the use of irrelevant words. His millions of followers can be seen on TickTok and Like. A few days ago, the authorities fired Apu from Tiktok and Laiki. Apu and his teenage gang friends blocked the road and when they asked him to leave the road while making a ticktok video, they beat him severely and seriously injured the two.
The last few days I have been watching social media and YouTube and a number of tickling and liking videos, which are inconvenient and tasteless. These videos are created and uploaded just to gain cheap popularity by using perverted gestures and obscene words and sex. About 80 percent of those who make TickTok and Like videos are teenagers. They are seen blocking the road and recording their videos everywhere through their mobiles.
The reviews of their videos show that millions of people have already watched such distorted and obscene videos. Making videos and its popularity indicates that our society is deteriorating and negative work is rapidly gaining popularity. Parents and educational institutions are failing miserably in educating their children.
The Government of Bangladesh enacted and implemented the Children’s Act in 2013. According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1979 and the Children’s Act 2013, all children up to the age of 18 are children. The trial and investigation of their crimes will be in accordance with the Children Act-2013. There are currently juvenile courts in every district to try juvenile offenders.
The Tribunal for the Suppression of Violence against Women and Children is an additional responsibility of the Juvenile Court. About 50,000 cases are pending in the juvenile courts in the country at present. According to the Children’s Act, 2013, there are several guidelines for the trial of children and their representation in court.
The district social service office, probation officer and the officer in charge of the children’s desk in each police station have different responsibilities in the light of the law. There are several safe homes and juvenile development centers for child offenders to work. The child accused are mainly punished in those development centers till bail. The activities of the centers in the mental development of the accused are not satisfactory. The government must take concerted efforts to improve the mental development of children and turn them away from crime.
In the above discussion, it is clear that the crime rate of children and adolescents in Bangladesh has increased a lot. The easy use of mobile phones, Facebook, Twitter, tiktok addiction and acquaintances with others, involvement in immature relationships, political intrigue and drug use are misleading teenagers and young people. If we do not take the right steps now, our future generations will be in danger.
Written by: Md. Zakir Hossain
Member of Bangladesh Judiciary and Senior Judicial Magistrate, Feni
