If You Don’t Like TikTok, Deny Your Kids Smartphones – Khalwale Says

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale opposes the motion tabled in the National Assembly seeking to ban TikTok in the Country.

Speaking on Twitter, Khalwale says that banning TikTok is not viable.

So somebody wants Parliament to ban Tik-tok?
A fat waste of time!
Kenya does not have its own unique locus on the Internet, which Parliamentary legislation can ring fence and lock.
If u don't like tik-tok, deny ua kids access to a smartphone or computer, IF U CAN. pic.twitter.com/IdaA6p4UU3

— Dr Boni Khalwale, CBS (@KBonimtetezi) August 16, 2023

 Further, the lawmaker observed that Kenya does not have its unique locus on the internet.

This comes a day after Parliament received a petition from a Kenyan Chief Executive Officer seeking to ban the popular social media application TikTok in Kenya.

The petitioner, Bridget Connect Consultancy CEO, Bob Ndolo, argues that the explicit content in TikTok promotes violence (sex), hate speech and vulgarity, which undermines Kenya's cultural and religious values.

Further, Ndolo argues that if TikTok is not banned, it poses threats of mental health issues to the youth and a decline in academic performance due to its addictive nature.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula on Tuesday stated that the petition decries that while it has gained popularity among the youths in Kenya, the content that is being shared on the platform is inappropriate, thus promoting violence, explicit sexual content, hate speech, vulgar language, and offensive behaviour which is a severe threat to the cultural and religious views of Kenya.

“The petitioner is also concerned that if the platform is not prohibited in Kenya, the Apps addictive nature will lead to a decline in academic performances and ascend in mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and sleep deprivation among the youth.”