Petitioner’s Call: Banning TikTok in Kenya
A petitioner has urged members of parliament in Kenya to ban the use of the popular social media application TikTok on the grounds that it contributes to the erosion of cultural and religious morals in society.
Bob Ndolo, the executive officer of Bridget Connect Consultancy, submitted a petition to the National Assembly on Tuesday, urging lawmakers to act swiftly and ban the use of TikTok in the country because it exposes children to explicit sexual content.
The petitioner complains that while the application has gained popularity among the nation’s youth, the content shared on the platform is inappropriate, thereby promoting violence, explicit sexual content, hate speech, vulgar language, and offensive behavior, which poses a grave threat to cultural and religious values.
The Communications Authority of Kenya does not regulate the internet in Kenya, so it is difficult to regulate the content uploaded to TikTok, according to him.
According to Ndolo’s petition, TikTok has violated the privacy of even young children, causing scandals.
He warned that if the app is not prohibited in Kenya, its addictive nature will lead to a decline in academic performance and an increase in mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and sleep deprivation among the youth.
Commenting on the petition, the leader of the majority, Kimani Ichung’wa, stated that parliament cannot oversee the app’s prohibition because it has provided employment for the majority of young people.
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Ichung’wa stated that while the petitioner has legitimate concerns, his proposal for a complete ban is analogous to fighting technology.
Ichung’wa stated, “The petitioner should come to seek on how to regulate the usage of the app, age group, and content uploaded for a certain age to watch, as a complete ban would destroy the careers of many young people who make a living off of it.”
“These apps are part of a government initiative to help young people earn a living by creating content for TikTok and Snapchat,” he explained.
Njeri Maina, a woman representative from Kirinyaga, stated that the country has a high unemployment rate, particularly among young people, and therefore lawmakers cannot ban tiktok but can regulate the content uploaded to it.
Irene Mayaka, a nominated member of parliament, stated that a prohibition on the app’s use in Kenya would not address the petitioner’s concerns because, with the help of Virtual Private Network (VPN) applications, it is still possible to view the content of apps available in other nations.
She urged parents to monitor their children’s use of social media.
John Kiarie, member of parliament for Dagoretti South, stated that TikTok has not committed a crime and that users should be held accountable for the content they view.
“Parliament cannot go to the homes of individuals to disable TikTok because children are misusing it; parents and churches must teach children about morality,” Mr. Kiarie said.
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Martin Owino, a representative for the constituency of Ndhiwa, remarked that the legislature cannot legislate on morals and, at the same time, cannot create an environment in which morality can flourish. He urged a delicate balance in addressing the issue.
We must be mindful of these platforms because the majority of parents cannot control the app’s use as effectively as we can. To save our children, we must exercise appropriate control and regulation, despite the impossibility of total prohibition, stated Mr. Owino.
The petition will be considered by the committee, which will render a decision sixty days after receiving it.
Petitioner’s Call: Banning TikTok in Kenya
