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Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o has urged the government not to ban TikTok.
According to the MP, the social media platform is where the current generation wants to belong and interact.
During an interview on Friday, Jalang’o also noted that various social media platforms are where young people are making money out of content creation.
“Don’t ban Tik Tok. The young people in their thousands believe that Tik Tok is where they are making their money,” he said on K24.
His statement came after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula on Tuesday confirmed he had received a petition seeking to ban TikTok in Kenya.
Speaking in Parliament, Wetang’ula said his office received a petition from Bob Ndolo, an executive officer of the Briget Connect Consultancy.
He said the petitioner has decried that the content that is being shared on the social media platform is inappropriate and is promoting violence, vulgar language, explicit sexual content, and hate speech which is a serious threat to cultural and religious values.
However, Jalang’o said some don’t know anything about TikTok.
“I know so many people in that House are talking about things they don’t know, and if they know it, they are only using it to post one or two things,” he added.
The MP said that social media has caught the attention of corporates as they have realised that they can make good money by using the platform.
“Corporates have noticed this and are putting money into social media including TikTok and it proves that it can be used for also professional matters,” Jalang’o added.
In the United States, social media service TikTok faced many bans due to national security concerns.
The social media platform has attracted critics even beyond the Kenya boarders
As of June 2023, federal employees and state employees in 34 (out of 50) states are prohibited from using the app on government devices.
In May 2023, Montana became the first state to ban TikTok on all personal devices, though this will not take effect until January 1, 2024, and is being challenged in court. BY THE STAR
