Short-form videos are opening fresh pathways to learning in Pakistan, sparking curiosity and helping young people pick up new skills. With the app embedded in daily life for many, students now turn to TikTok for quick exam refreshers, creators break down tricky concepts, and digital educators build communities around everything from coding to climate change.
The recent launch of TikTok’s dedicated STEM feed in Pakistan has accelerated the shift. It surfaces engaging science, technology, engineering and maths clips, often in Urdu and regional languages, and leans on humour, storytelling and visuals to make lessons feel approachable.
A key factor driving this trend is TikTok’s unique trait of curating personalised content based on user interests. As students engage with academic videos of their interest and choice, they’re exposed to more of the same, creating a loop that supports self-paced, interest-driven learning.
When it works, students stack learning moments throughout the day: a concept clarified on the bus ride home, a formula remembered via a meme, a quick recap before a quiz. Well-produced videos often anchor understanding with engaging animations and real-world examples, the kind of aids that help information stick.
“It’s exciting to see how my students’ curiosity has been sparked by short videos they watch online,” says Ayesha Khan, a science teacher in Lahore. “They come to class eager to learn more about experiments or concepts they’ve seen in these videos. It’s wonderful to see them so interested and motivated.”
There’s a wide range of content out there, and a growing number of creators are finding engaging ways to explain ideas that really connect with students. In a country where access to quality education remains uneven, TikTok is opening new avenues for informal learning. It’s not a substitute for the classroom, but rather it is expanding the definition of where and how education can happen and who gets to participate. Used thoughtfully, a quick 60-second clip can spark a question, demystify a formula or nudge a career interest. The challenge now is to make those moments add up, from curiosity on a screen to confidence in a classroom, a lab or a workshop.
As digital platforms become more central to how young Pakistanis live and learn, the conversation is shifting. The question is no longer whether apps like TikTok can support education, but how far that potential can go — and how educators and policymakers can help it do so responsibly.