The TikTok Trials: When “Protecting Values” Becomes a Political Game

In recent weeks, Egypt’s social media scene has been ablaze with news of a large-scale crackdown on TikTok influencers. Eleven well-known content creators - among them Umm Sajda, Umm Mekka, Qamar El-Wekala, and even the Jordanian Suzy - were arrested on charges of “threatening the values of the Egyptian family” and “misusing social media.” The arrests were carried out with dramatic flair, complete with police vans, public statements, and a sense of national urgency - as though the very soul of the nation hung in the balance.

But when we peel back the layers of official rhetoric, an uncomfortable picture emerges: this crackdown is less about morality and more about control. And while the state frames the operation as a defense of ethics, the deeper issues - poverty, systemic inequality, and selective enforcement of laws - reveal a different truth.

1. The Politics of “Family Values”

Egypt’s leadership has shown a peculiar talent: an unwavering commitment to defending abstract notions of morality, even as tangible needs go unmet. Education, healthcare, affordable housing, and decent wages often take a back seat, but “values” - nebulous, undefined, and unmeasurable - receive full state protection.

The paradox is striking. The state can tolerate hunger, overcrowded schools, underfunded hospitals, and skyrocketing prices. But it will not tolerate the perceived erosion of “Egyptian family values” by 30-second videos on a Chinese app. This selective prioritization raises the question: are these values being defended for the people’s benefit, or for the regime’s image?

2. Laws Written in Smoke

One of the most powerful tools in this kind of political theater is the vague law. In this case, statutes like “threatening values” or “misusing the internet” are so undefined that they can be applied to almost anyone. It’s a feature, not a bug: ambiguity gives the authorities the flexibility to target whoever they wish, whenever they wish, with charges that are impossible to concretely disprove.

Consider Egypt’s Cybercrime Law, introduced a few years ago. To this day, even legal experts admit that many of its clauses are unclear. Yet it has been applied for years, sending citizens to prison without them fully understanding what rule they allegedly broke.

The result is a permanent atmosphere of fear. If no one knows exactly what the law forbids, then everyone is potentially guilty - and everyone can be silenced.

3. Who Gets Punished (and Who Doesn’t)

If TikTok videos are truly a threat to morality, you’d expect all offending accounts to be treated equally. But reality tells another story. Many Egyptian and foreign influencers post content filled with dancing, provocative clothing, and coarse language - yet they face no repercussions.

The difference? These “untouchable” influencers often belong to wealthier circles. They speak in polished English accents, wear expensive brands, and post from luxury resorts or gated communities. Far from being punished, some are invited to festivals, hired by major companies, or given their own TV shows.

In contrast, those arrested in the recent crackdown largely came from working-class backgrounds. Their videos were rough, unpolished, and unmistakably local. Their accents, homes, and lifestyles didn’t fit the aspirational image the state wants to project - and that made them easy targets.

4. Why They Turned to TikTok in the First Place

For many of those arrested, TikTok wasn’t a hobby - it was survival. Years of poverty, unemployment, and inadequate education had left them with few options. Some had dropped out of school. Others worked menial jobs for meager pay.

When TikTok appeared, it offered something they’d never had: a way to earn money without needing elite connections or expensive degrees. By attracting millions of followers, they could earn enough to support themselves and their families.

Yes, their videos were often crude, comedic, or exaggerated. But expecting them to produce highbrow political commentary or cultural critiques was unrealistic. Their content reflected their own environment, opportunities, and limitations. It wasn’t a calculated campaign to corrupt morality - it was a desperate attempt to escape poverty.

5. The Hypocrisy of Moral Outrage

Perhaps the most glaring contradiction is that some of these same influencers were previously welcomed by mainstream media. They appeared on TV shows, participated in entertainment programs, and were even cast in dramas. At that time, their content didn’t seem to offend “family values.”

The shift from welcome guest to moral criminal didn’t happen because their behavior changed - it happened because the state decided they no longer served its image. In other words, morality here is less about ethics and more about optics.

6. The Real Threats to Society

It’s worth asking: what truly destroys the moral and social fabric of a country? Is it TikTok dances and comedic skits, or is it:

Persistent poverty that traps millions in hardship

Corruption and cronyism that reward the connected over the competent

A justice system where charges can be fabricated and evidence is optional

The silencing of dissent and independent voices

These structural issues cause far more damage to “family values” than any viral video. They erode trust, create desperation, and normalize injustice.

7. Selective Crackdowns as a Distraction

From a political standpoint, moral panics serve a purpose. By focusing public outrage on a group of TikTokers, the government redirects attention from rising prices, fuel shortages, and political repression. The public is encouraged to see these influencers as the “real” problem, rather than systemic failings.

It’s an old trick: if people are angry at each other, they’re less likely to unite against the forces keeping them down.

8. The Bigger Picture

Today, it’s TikTok stars from working-class neighborhoods. Tomorrow, it could be journalists, activists, or even ordinary citizens whose online posts get labeled as “immoral” or “destabilizing.” The precedent is set: if the law is vague enough, it can be used against anyone.

And while many might shrug because they dislike the people currently targeted, history shows that unchecked power always expands. What feels distant today could be at your doorstep tomorrow.

9. Beyond TikTok: A Society on Edge

The irony is that Egypt has millions of citizens who never touch TikTok, yet live in conditions far more damaging to societal health than anything posted online. Long hours for starvation wages, unsafe transport, underfunded schools, overcrowded hospitals - these realities grind down dignity and hope far more than social media ever could.

But these issues rarely inspire the same urgency as “moral” crackdowns. They require investment, reform, and accountability - not a headline-friendly raid and a handful of viral mugshots.

Conclusion: Morality or Control?

The TikTok arrests were framed as a victory for national values. But when examined closely, they reveal a story of selective enforcement, class bias, and political theater. Those arrested weren’t saints - their content was often crude, exploitative, and shallow. But in a country where poverty limits opportunity, such content was their ticket out.

If Egypt truly wants to protect its “family values,” it must look beyond viral videos and address the deeper forces eroding society: inequality, repression, and a justice system that serves the powerful over the people. Until then, morality will remain less a guiding principle than a convenient weapon.