An individual who previously worked closely with a former Nigerian president has expressed concern about the negative impact of the social media platform TikTok in the country.
According to the source, TikTok is increasingly being used by criminal elements such as bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists to disseminate misinformation and propaganda, necessitating stricter regulation from relevant authorities.
The individual emphasized that the freedom offered by TikTok is empowering criminals to exploit the platform for their malicious activities, including engaging with the public and justifying their criminal behavior.
It was noted that Nigeria requires enhanced regulations and monitoring mechanisms on TikTok to prevent these individuals from leveraging the platform for harmful purposes.
Notably, during a previous administration, the Nigerian government imposed a ban on the microblogging site Twitter for over 200 days, citing reasons that led to a temporary suspension of its services in the country.
Recently, there have been concerns raised about viral TikTok videos featuring criminals flaunting money allegedly obtained as ransom payments, prompting discussions among security experts and the public.