Somalia Orders TikTok, Telegram Shut Down
VOAAug 20, 2023
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.
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.
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.
There's a 10% chance that the US will ban TikTok before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.