Taliban moves to ban TikTok within Afghanistan
TikTok is under fire in Afghanistan, with the Taliban wanting the popular social media platform banned
Afghanistan’s Taliban government has ordered that video-sharing social media platform TikTok be banned within the country, stating that it is leading young Afghans “astray.”
Taliban spokesman Inamullah Samangani says that the latest ban was necessary to “prevent the younger generation from being misled”.
In the latest announcement by the militant group, the Taliban has also insisted that it would ban television channels from airing what the group has deemed as “immoral material”.
The latest bans follow recent ones made on music, movies, and television programs
The Taliban promised a softer approach to the government when it took power last year, but has increasingly suppressed the rights and freedoms, especially for women.
The Taliban, who is now recognised as the government of Afghanistan, was known for their severe version of Islamist rule that characterized their first stint in government between 1996 and 2001.
It is the first time that the group has banned a social media app since it came to power last August.
The Taliban have announced that they will ban TikTok because it promotes violence.
Taliban’s ministry of telecommunication said the popular app as well as PUBG, an online game will be banned in the country within weeks.
‘TikTok has been spreading immoral and non-Islamic content and videos in an Islamic country among the very vulnerable youths of Afghanistan, and we have to block it for the sake of our youths’ future,’ a Taliban official told MailOnline.
‘They are just devastating our young people by advertising western lifestyle. We are living in an Islamic country and these platforms have been spreading content against it,’ he said.
‘Facebook is also spreading the same kind of content. Our youths are wasting a lot of time on that. It’s our duty to take care of young people,’ the official said.
Internet providers were informed that they have the next 30 days as ‘the deadline’ to ban TikTok, the ministry of telecommunication said in a statement.
People will be blocked from being able to use the popular apps in the country.
The new rulers of Afghanistan announced the decision in a meeting with the representatives of security sectors and a representative from the Sharia law enforcement administration.
It comes after recent bans on music, movies, and television soap operas which saw the Taliban destroying musical instruments.
