Somalia Bans TikTok, Telegram Over Content Concerns

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Image copyright: Solen Feyissa [via Wikimedia Commons]

The Facts

  • Somalia's Communications Minister Jama Hassan Khalif on Sunday announced a ban on TikTok and the messaging app Telegram to stop the alleged spread of indecent content, including "horrific" images and misinformation.

  • The decision requiring the compliance of private telecom companies — which will take effect on Aug. 24 — is the first official attempt by the Somali government to shut down any social media platform.

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The Spin

Narrative A

TikTok and Telegram have become a haven for al-Shabab and other terrorist groups to spread propaganda and engage in cyber warfare against Somalia. Not only is TikTok a vulgar app that exposes people, especially vulnerable minors, to awful and indecent content, but it is also a national security threat. These applications provide no good for society — the government was right to step in and ban them.

VOA

Narrative B

While the Somali government may act like TikTok has no worth and is only a net negative for society, it is overlooking the value the app brings to many people's lives. Many Somalians rely on the app as a form of income and need the platform just to afford their essentials. Like anything, moderation is key, and the government could have found a way to regulate TikTok without resorting to an outright ban.

WION

Metaculus Prediction