The Federal Government has revealed plans to regulate TikTok and other social media platforms, aiming to steer young creators toward more educational and skill-based content.
Officials say the move is designed to channel Nigeria’s youthful creativity into productive digital spaces, moving away from what they describe as “purely entertainment-driven content” that floods the app.
But the announcement has sparked a wave of backlash online, with many Nigerians questioning the government’s timing and priorities amid ongoing economic struggles and rising unemployment.
One X user didn’t hold back:
“Here we go again. Instead of fixing unemployment or the economy, they want to regulate TikTok.”
Another chimed in:
“How about focusing on skill empowerment offline first before policing vibes online?”
Some users joked about the potential fallout, with one quipping:
“Next thing you’ll see comedians teaching carpentry tutorials just to stay online.”
While most see the regulation as government overreach, a handful of Nigerians support the idea, describing TikTok as increasingly toxic and shallow.
“That’s a good one. TikTok is now a begging app. You can’t even meet decent people there anymore,” one commenter said.
Still, defenders of content creators were quick to argue that entertainment pays the bills, and educational content rarely goes viral.
“Experience has shown that educative content doesn’t go viral,” another user pointed out.
Despite the debate, most Nigerians agree on one thing: TikTok has become a vital platform for youth expression, creativity, and income.
Any regulation, they say, should empower creators, not shut them down.
