TikTok Emerges as Kenya’s Leading Social Media Platform with Global Influence
Kenya has embraced the digital age and emerged as a global leader in TikTok usage, according to the latest Reuters Institute Digital Report. With a staggering 54 percent of Kenyans actively using the Chinese app, TikTok has taken over as the country’s favorite social media platform. Its popularity skyrocketed since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, providing a therapeutic outlet and escape from the grim reality of rising death tolls while also nurturing young talents.
TikTok’s appeal lies in its ability to offer entertainment, information, and education in an interactive and fun way, particularly for the youth. This platform has become a career path for social media influencers, granting them fame and recognition. Moreover, it has proven to be a valuable business venture for small-scale entrepreneurs, offering an affordable and effective means of advertising their products and reaching a larger clientele.
One of the game-changing features of TikTok is the live streaming function, which allows hosts to receive monetary gifts from their audience. Ranging from as little as Sh100 to a whopping Sh35,000, these gifts can be life-changing for content creators and provide an incentive for users to engage further.
However, amidst TikTok’s remarkable success, a petition has been filed in Parliament by Bob Ndolo, calling for a ban on the platform. Ndolo alleges that TikTok promotes explicit content, vulgar language, and violent behavior, all of which he believes to be immoral. However, this petition represents a narrow-minded view and a misinformed perception of TikTok’s substantial positive impact.
Rather than hastily banning TikTok, it would be more prudent for authorities to consider the platform’s pros and cons and explore options for regulating any undesirable aspects. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has emphasized that the app offers a strictly regulated and monitored version for children under 13, including parental pairing settings to control the content accessed by minors.
A ban on TikTok in Kenya would not only disrupt the lives and livelihoods of the eight million users but also unfairly punish 27 percent of the population for the misconduct of a few individuals. In an era dominated by technology, isolation is not an option for Kenyans.
It is crucial for regulators to take a balanced approach and carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks of TikTok’s presence. Instead of a ban, fostering an environment that encourages responsible use and content moderation would better serve both the users and the nation as a whole.
In conclusion, TikTok has emerged as Kenya’s leading social media platform with a global influence. Its popularity stems from its ability to provide entertainment, information, education, and even career opportunities. However, concerns have been raised regarding explicit content and violent behavior. Rather than banning the app outright, a balanced and nuanced approach should be taken to regulate and address any issues, ultimately benefiting the millions of Kenyans who have come to rely on TikTok.
