Jannat Mirza becomes the first Pakistani to hit 25m followers on TikTok, surpassing Hania Amir who has 14m on Instagram. X photo

Pakistan's leading TikTok star, Jannat Mirza, has outshone all major actresses in the social media popularity race, achieving an impressive milestone of 25 million followers on TikTok.

The feat makes the 26-year-old actress the only Pakistani personality to reach this number on any social media platform.

TikTok, the short-form video hosting service, has skyrocketed in popularity since its launch in 2016, amassing over 1 billion active users worldwide.

To celebrate her achievement, Jannat shared a screenshot of her TikTok account on her official Instagram story.

"Reaching 25 million followers on TikTok is a huge milestone for me. I am extremely happy," Jannat's post read.

Addressing her TikTok "family," she added, "To all my 25 million followers, I love you all very much."

Among Pakistani actresses, Hania Aamir is the most popular on social media with over 14 million followers on Instagram, followed closely by Ayeza Khan with 14 million followers.

In addition to her TikTok success, Jannat Mirza boasts over 5 million followers on Instagram and has garnered 222,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel.

Jannat Mirza’s rise to fame highlights the growing influence of social media stars in Pakistan, often surpassing traditional celebrities in popularity and reach. Her success underscores a shift in how audiences engage with content and personalities, favouring the immediacy and accessibility of platforms like TikTok.

TikTok's addictive algorithm and innovative approach to content discovery, which delivers a personalized feed based on users' behaviours and preferences, have been key to its success. TikTok's influence extends beyond entertainment, shaping how a whole generation perceives the world.

In July 2021, the Pakistani government banned TikTok, citing "immoral and indecent" content on the platform.

The ban came after the country's telecommunications authority received numerous complaints about the app's content and issued several warnings to TikTok to moderate content.

The ban was lifted in November 2021 after TikTok agreed to moderate content in accordance with local laws