Social media was born from people's needs to communicate and reaching out to others, as well as keeping up to what others are doing.
But fast forward, social media has become a place to look for popularity.
TikTok is a social media platform popular amongst youngsters. Through its short-form video content, the platforms value creativity its users can create in just a few seconds of time.
And this time, three young men from Morocco learned things the hard way, when a court in Casablanca sentenced them to three years in prison for creating a TikTok content.
But not just some ordinary TikTok content.
In a video they created, the first of the three friends set up a table and chair on a tramway track in Casablanca. As soon as the tram approached, the young man sat on the chair, and lit a cigarette.
While the other man is recording, the third man acts like a waiter, and is seen handling him over a cup of coffee.
He was relishing while the tram was forced to a dead stop right behind him.
The video that is then uploaded to TikTok, quickly went viral, and sparked controversies.
Many of whom are Moroccans, they have taken their anger to TikTok, and also on other social media networks where the video is posted, to express their disapproval of the bizarre actions of the young men.
"This is why everyone is ok with banning TikTok," said one user on X.
"Finally someone takes some responsibility for locking up these plastic influencers," said another.
"Finally a right example has been made." another commenter said.
"These TikTokers actually feel they can now do anything for content. I say double the years," said another.
Subsequently, police in Casablanca identified the three men and placed them in custody.
The court handed a three-year prison sentence to the culprit responsible for hampering the tramway traffic, while the other two defendants were each sentenced to two-years in prison.
The three individuals received prison sentences after being found guilty of “obstructing public traffic.”
The court sentences are in accordance with Article 591 of the Moroccan penal code.
The article stipulates that "whoever, with a view to causing an accident or to obstruct or obstruct traffic, places on a road or public way an object obstructing the passage of vehicles or uses any means to obstruct their walking is punished with a prison sentence of five to ten years."
Tramways are meant for safe transportation, not as a backdrop for risky antics.
Following the case, the Moroccan authorities urged everyone to refrain from such acts to gain popularity on social media platforms.
