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Saturday, 31 October 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

TikTok

Social media platform that has faced regulation for child safety violations, content moderation, and privacy issues in multiple countries including Kenya.

2026-04-292026-10-31
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In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. July 2026

  2. Citizen Digital

    … France's public health watchdog last year said platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram were detrimental to adolescents, particularly girls, though it was not the sole reason for their declining mental health. …

    French lawmakers expected to approve social media ban for under-15s

  3. Citizen Digital

    … France's public health watchdog last year said platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram were detrimental to adolescents, particularly girls, though it was not the sole reason for their declining mental health. …

    French lawmakers expected to approve social media ban for under-15s

  4. Capital News

    … The outage comes at a time when social media platforms have become central to public discourse in Kenya, with Facebook ranking among the country’s most influential digital platforms alongside WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and X.

    Facebook Outage Locks Out Thousands of Users as Platform Reports Temporary Site Issue

  5. Citizen Digital

    … | []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-m', container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); Smartphone maker Nubia unveiled its NaviX Ultra, a phone powered by Doubao, China's massively popular AI chatbot tool run by TikTok …

    Pocket-size AI: Powerful phones star at China show

  6. The Standard

    … The young woman, who has openly admitted to earning a living by sending nude photographs to subscribers on TikTok, suddenly found herself at the centre of a national conversation; one that stretches well beyond her own story. …

    From selling skin to selling souls: Inside Kenya's underground 'nude' economy

  7. Citizen Digital

    … Audio By Vocalize By Christine Waweru Spend a few minutes on TikTok and you'll quickly notice that entertainment is often only the opening act. …

    The marketplace internet: How Kenya's digital spaces are changing

  8. The Standard

    … Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook quickly became the focus of concerns over deteriorating mental health, cyberbullying, online predators and deliberately addictive design. …

    Beyond social media: Are governments regulating the wrong thing?

  9. The Standard

    … "More can and must be done." Alongside the recommendations, the EU has ramped up the pressure on social media platforms to change, telling Facebook and Instagram Friday to dismantle their "addictive" features, after a similar warning to TikTok in February.The expert panel met thr …

    Mulling ban, EU gets expert verdict on social media for children

  10. The Standard

    … Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook quickly became the focus of concerns over deteriorating mental health, cyberbullying, online predators and deliberately addictive design. …

    Beyond social media: When governments regulate the wrong thing

  11. Citizen Digital

    … A quick scroll through Kenyan Instagram and TikTok pages reveals just how much the industry has evolved. …

    The great beauty reset: Why more Kenyans are removing tattoos, eyebrows and gel nails
Opinion

Kenyan firms ignore social media engagement, risk brand damage

The News

An opinion piece argues that seven in ten Kenyans research brands on social media before buying, yet most corporate pages operate as noticeboards rather than engaging platforms. The writer notes that organic online activism—exemplified by Kenyans on X responding to a US host's comment about their city—demonstrates the power of real-time community engagement that companies are failing to harness.

30 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Yesterday

  1. Kenyan firms ignore social media engagement, risk brand damage

    An opinion piece argues that seven in ten Kenyans research brands on social media before buying, yet most corporate pages operate as noticeboards rather than engaging platforms. The writer notes that organic online activism—exemplified by Kenyans on X responding to a US host's comment about their city—demonstrates the power of real-time community engagement that companies are failing to harness.

    30 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Sunday 25 October

  1. Gabon lifts eight-month social media ban after criticism

    Gabon's High Communication Authority restored access to social media platforms including Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram on Saturday, ending an eight-month suspension imposed in February citing concerns that online content was stoking conflict and division.

    25 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 15 October

  1. Australia introduces Digital Duty of Care legislation for big tech platforms

    Australia's Labour government formally introduced a "Digital Duty of Care" bill requiring social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram to give users the choice to opt out of algorithms and to protect under-18s from pornography, online bullying, content glorifying crime, and content encouraging eating disorders. Communications Minister Anika Wells said that if tech firms "build it, you are responsible for its risks."

    15 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 12 October

  1. Germany investigates robot-assisted alleged assault live-streamed on social media

    German police are investigating a 16-year-old and 19-year-old for allegedly using a 1.2-metre red and gold robot to sexually assault a 16-year-old girl in Cologne and live-streaming the incident on social media. The robot was recovered from a car boot and authorities have seized it along with the suspects' phones.

    12 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. EU warns platforms against livestreaming US execution

    The European Union warned digital platforms against showing a planned livestream execution of Nidal Hasan, a US Army psychiatrist who killed 13 people in 2009, scheduled for December 3. EU officials said platforms must enforce their terms of service, noting that Meta forbids livestreaming capital punishments while X and TikTok forbid shocking and violent content.

    12 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Friday 9 October

  1. US Pentagon to livestream first military execution in 60 years

    The US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the execution by firing squad of former Army major Nidal Hasan — who killed 13 unarmed soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009 — will be livestreamed to the public. A Defense Department official said this would be the first public execution in the US in nearly a century and is considered unprecedented in the modern era.

    9 October 2026 · Capital News →

Wednesday 7 October

  1. Government outlines cybersecurity and data privacy protection measures

    Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo told the Senate that the Government is implementing measures to protect Kenyans from online gender-based violence, cybercrime and misuse of personal information, anchored on regulation, public awareness, detection and response through the Kenya Computer Incident Response Team-Coordination Centre, digital forensics, and multi-agency collaboration.

    7 October 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 28 September

  1. Japanese voice actor sues TikTok over AI-cloned voice videos

    Kenjiro Tsuda, a prominent anime voice actor known for roles in "Jujutsu Kaisen" and "Yu-Gi-Oh!", has filed what is believed to be Japan's first lawsuit defending an individual's vocal identity against AI-generated copies. Tsuda is demanding TikTok remove videos narrated by a voice he says mimics his distinctive baritone, though the platform argues the voice is generic and any similarity is subjective.

    28 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Sunday 20 September

  1. US judge signals rejection of TikTok privacy settlement part

    A federal judge in Los Angeles indicated he would reject part of TikTok and ByteDance's proposed $400 million settlement with the US Justice Department over violations of children's online privacy laws, specifically the request to terminate a 2019 Federal Trade Commission consent decree.

    20 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 17 September

  1. Sports streaming offers Kenyan broadcasters audience and revenue opportunities

    Live sports remain valuable assets for sustainable media globally. Kenyan broadcasters can use sports streaming to extend traditional TV and radio reach while developing new audience engagement and revenue models through mobile-centric consumption.

    17 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. TikTok requests Kenyan creators submit tax details ahead of earnings deductions

    TikTok has notified Kenyan creators to submit tax and residency information as the platform prepares to apply withholding deductions to eligible earnings at reported rates of 5% for residents and 20% for non-residents, though the platform has not clarified when deductions will begin or how rates will apply to different payout types.

    17 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  3. Facebook and TikTok inaccessible in Equatorial Guinea for two weeks

    Facebook and TikTok have been inaccessible for more than two weeks in Equatorial Guinea following a viral video accusing the vice-president of corruption, according to an AFP journalist. Internet speed has been restricted since September 2, and access to these platforms is impossible without a virtual private network.

    17 September 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 16 September

  1. Samsung Galaxy AI targets young creators across East Africa

    Samsung Electronics East Africa is promoting its Galaxy AI suite as a tool designed for content creators, students, and young professionals. The features include Circle to Search with Google, which allows users to identify and source items from social media by circling them on screen.

    16 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Police arrest woman after tools found hidden in jailbreak attempt

    Ruai Police Station officers discovered a pair of pliers and a shear hidden in a meal delivered by an 18-year-old woman to three suspects in custody, leading to her arrest. The three detainees are held over robbery with violence and gang rape allegations, and police allege they operated an anonymous TikTok account to lure victims.

    16 September 2026 · Capital News →

  3. UNICEF report: 20 million children face tech-facilitated sexual abuse yearly

    A UNICEF report studying 21 countries found an estimated 20 million children aged 12–17 experienced at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in a single year, with nearly 60 per cent of cases occurring on social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp.

    16 September 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 9 September

  1. Three suspects arrested for TikTok gang-rape scheme in Ruai

    Three men aged 17 and 21 were arrested in Ruai for operating an anonymous TikTok page to lure women to secluded areas for robbery and sexual assault. The suspects forced some victims to transfer money via M-Pesa and robbed others of mobile phones and valuables.

    9 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 3 September

  1. UNICEF: 1 in 5 children face tech-facilitated sexual abuse annually

    Nearly one in five internet-using children aged 12 to 17 across 21 countries experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in a single year, affecting an estimated 20 million children. The abuse predominantly occurs on mainstream social media platforms and is frequently perpetrated by people children already know, with Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram accounting for the majority of cases.

    3 September 2026 · Capital News →

Monday 31 August

  1. EU designates ChatGPT, Reddit, Roblox as very large platforms

    The EU added ChatGPT to a list of digital services subject to greater legal scrutiny, making it the first AI chatbot to face the designation. Reddit and Roblox were also designated as "very large" online platforms, requiring them to comply with additional obligations under the Digital Services Act within four months.

    31 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 27 August

  1. Meta pays $18 billion in US teen safety settlement

    Meta agreed to pay up to $16.7 billion to a coalition of US states and impose new restrictions on teen use of Facebook and Instagram, resolving a landmark lawsuit over claims the company deliberately hooked young users, misled the public about risks, and unlawfully collected data from children under 13.

    27 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 26 August

  1. Meta to pay $16.7 billion in US teen safety settlement

    Meta agreed to pay as much as $16.7 billion to a coalition of 29 US states and impose sweeping new limits on how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram, resolving a landmark trial that alleged the company deliberately engineered its platforms to hook young users, misled the public about risks, and unlawfully collected data from children under 13.

    26 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 25 August

  1. Social media platforms fuelling tribal polarisation in Kenya

    A Code for Africa report titled Weaponised Identity and Digital Polarisation in Kenya reveals that platforms including X, TikTok and Facebook have become breeding grounds for false and inflammatory narratives, with digital misinformation, social media manipulation and toxic tribal profiling threatening Kenya's social fabric.

    25 August 2026 · The Standard →

Sunday 23 August

  1. Lebanon arrests TikTok food influencer on drug trafficking charges

    Georges Dib, a TikTok influencer with over eight million followers known as "Doctor Food" who owns a confectionery business, was arrested in northern Lebanon on Sunday. He had been sentenced to life in absentia for drug trafficking and faces new charges related to manufacturing and smuggling narcotics through food products.

    23 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Seven dead in UK head-on crash with police car

    Seven people including two police officers died in northeast England after a car traveling the wrong way down a major road struck a marked police armed response vehicle near Middlesbrough.

    23 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  3. Swedish police investigate online networks in school sword attack

    Swedish police are investigating whether an 18-year-old man who killed a 17-year-old girl and severely injured two teenage boys in a sword attack at a high school in Fagersta was involved in online communities promoting school violence. Police are examining a TikTok account that posted a picture of a sword 20 minutes before the assault, which contained videos referencing mass violence incidents and Norwegian far-right mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik.

    23 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 19 August

  1. US states sue Meta for designing addictive Instagram, Facebook

    A coalition of US states is pursuing a federal court case against Meta, alleging the company knowingly designed Instagram and Facebook to be addictive to children and misled the public. The states are seeking approximately $200 billion in penalties, comparing the case to landmark tobacco litigation.

    19 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Meta federal trial begins over alleged addictive social media design

    Opening arguments begin Tuesday in a federal trial where Meta faces charges of deliberately making Instagram and Facebook addictive to children, with a coalition of states seeking $200 billion in penalties. Meta denies the allegations and says it has worked to incorporate protective safeguards for children.

    19 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 18 August

  1. Teachers' unions seek clear TSC social media misconduct rules

    Teachers' unions want the TSC to define what constitutes misconduct under its new social media directive before enforcement, warning that vague rules could be misused to intimidate educators. They are pushing for wider consultation and clarity on what is prohibited, particularly for content created outside school premises and working hours.

    18 August 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 17 August

  1. Gen Z KDF recruits humanize uniform through social media displays

    A Standard opinion piece reflects on how videos of newly graduated KDF officers openly embracing family and crying at their pass-out ceremony, shared on social media, challenged the traditional perception that military and police officers should remain emotionally stoic. The piece suggests the Gen Z generation is breaking with an old mythology that officers should keep emotions separate from duty.

    17 August 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 12 August

  1. Meta faces US trial over allegedly addictive features for children

    Meta will defend itself in federal court this week against allegations from four states—California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey—that it deliberately designed addictive features in Facebook and Instagram for children. Experts describe the case as social media's "tobacco moment," comparing it to tobacco lawsuits from the 1990s.

    12 August 2026 · The Standard →

  2. Meta, TikTok to strengthen fact-checking on migrant disinformation

    The EU said Meta and TikTok agreed to boost fact-checking of disinformation linked to a recent Ceuta migrant rush, where experts say social media false claims about an open border helped drive 72,000 migrants from Morocco into Spain's territory. The European Commission set up a coordination mechanism with the platforms and fact-checkers, though it did not rule out compelling the tech giants to do more.

    12 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

TikTok — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute