Kenyan President William Ruto has agreed to work with TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, to regulate the content so that it meets community standards.
In a virtual meeting held today, President William Ruto said that he will ensure that whatever goes on that page has already been filtered and adheres to the terms and conditions that they have put in place.
They both came to the conclusion that inappropriate content would not be shared on the page.
The CEO also agreed that he would set up a Kenyan office to coordinate its operations on the continent. Adding to that, it will also be an opportunity for unemployed Kenyans to finally get a job.
The move had been incited by a petition that was signed by the Executive Officer of Bridget Connect Consultancy, Bob Ndolo, who said that they would want MPs to ban the use of TikTok in the country, arguing that it exposes young people to explicit sexual content, especially through a repeatedly awful act that has been going on at midnight.
Initially, people were voting that it be banned, while some of the few content creators, Members of Parliament, and artists came out and said that what the government would rather do is regulate the amount of content that can be displayed there because there are many people who make an honest living through TikTok and banning it would mess them up.
The President addressed the public telling them that he spoke with TikTok team and agreed that no bad content will be showcased, aside from that he told the youths to consider using the app in a rightful way that can generate honest income to their pockets.
“Nimeongea na hao watu wa TikTok nikawaambia hatutaki Content chafu kwa mambo ya mtandao wetu ile content tunataka ni ile inaendesha biashara na ile inapatia vijana wetu mapato.
Na tukakubaliana na wao kati ya serikali ya Kenya na wao ya kwamba tutaweka content moderation agenda ambayo itatusaidia kumoderate content,na pia tumekubaliana mambo ya monetization iliiweze kuweka pesa kwa mifuko ya hawa vijana.”
An opportunity to monetize the app will help youths learn skills that can enable them be referred to work to other states out of Kenya.