Catholic Activists Want TikTok’s “sexually provocative” Content Banned in Kenya

Nairobi, 26 September, 2023 / 9:00 PM

Catholic activists in Africa under their umbrella organization, CitizenGO Africa are calling upon the Kenyan government to ban sexually provocative content on TikTok, a social media platform that has gained rootedness in the East African nation, especially among the youth.

According to the activists, such content is “sexualizing” TikTok users at “a disturbingly” tender age and is leading to the erosion of morals in the country.

“Live airing of nudity and pornography is pervading our youth, sexualizing them at a disturbingly young age. This continued equalization of TikTok content should never be entertained. We must act now to protect our children and preserve our society's moral fabric,” the activists say in a report shared with ACI Africa Tuesday, September 26.

The CitizenGo activists note that rapid growth of social media platforms has brought both opportunities and challenges, adding, “One platform that has gained significant attention, especially among the youth, is TikTok.”

“While TikTok provides a space for creativity and self-expression, it has also become a source of concern due to its sexually provocative content,” they say.

The activists have launched a petition urging the Kenyan Parliament to ban TikTok's sexually provocative content, noting that the social media content’s influence on young minds is undeniable.

“TikTok's easily accessible content raises concerns about the exposure of minors to explicit and sexually suggestive material,” the Catholic activists say, adding, “Such content not only contradicts our family values but also poses a threat to the mental and emotional well-being of our youth.”

“We have a responsibility to ensure that the content our youth consume reflects our family values and promotes healthy behaviors. A ban on TikTok's sexually provocative content will create a safer digital environment for our children to thrive in,” the activists.