A video featuring former President John Dramani Mahama displaying his jet ski prowess at the riverfront of his Ada residence has made its way online.
This video was posted by a TikTok user, @khashboss, who, along with a group of friends, witnessed the former president enjoying himself by the riverside.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the music platform Ghana Songs, Bright Dwomoh, has made the claim that TikTok is causing the music industry to deteriorate. He believes that this social media platform, since its inception, has rapidly grown to become one of the most widely used tools globally.
TikTok, known for its short-form videos and viral challenges, has garnered immense popularity among younger users, thus exerting a significant influence on various industries. Consequently, Ghanaian artists have shifted away from promoting their songs through traditional media channels.
According to Mr. Dwomoh, any artiste who releases a song channels most of his or her promotion through Tiktok which is just an avenue to hype the song.
This medium he bemoaned doesn’t last as compared to the traditional media like radio where the DJ will play it on rotation to make listeners have a feel of the song and make it last longer in the system.
“Any artiste that releases a song always has Tiktik promotion in mind but TikTok only hypes the song for a week to a month and it fades away.
But if they follow the normal procedure by involving the traditional media by touring the radio and TV stations, it is 70% assured that it will blow and help it last longer in the system than using TikTok,” he stated.
Argentina is going to have an important election on Sunday to choose a new president. This election is considered to be one of the most democratic and unrestricted ones in many years. The consequences of a severe economic crisis have provided a perfect opportunity for an unconventional far-right candidate, who has distinctive and eccentric appearance, and a completely different way of governing the nation.
Javier Milei was not very well-known until recently. He is an economist, commentator, and loves rock music. He won the recent primaries and current polls show that he is leading in the first round on Sunday.
He really wants to make changes and he is very sure about it. At a campaign event, he used a chainsaw to show that he plans to cut spending to make Argentina’s economy better.
“We need someone from outside who is brave enough to confront the criminal organizations in our country,” states Alejandro Lazcano, a supporter waiting in line to attend Milei’s final campaign event six hours ahead of its scheduled start time. “Who actually has the courage to make the necessary changes. ”
Javier Milei, who is often compared to former US president Donald Trump, definitely says he will. He has expressed his desire to explode the central bank and bring in the dollar as the official money of the country in order to stop the high inflation, which is currently at more than 100%.
With Argentina on the verge of economic collapse, this message is understood by millions of people.
Benjamin Gedan, who leads the Wilson Centre’s Argentina Project, says that Milei’s strong candidacy represents the dissatisfaction of the local population with the government and its policies. This sentiment has been fueled by a decade of slow economic growth and the negative impact of the pandemic on the economy.
Voters are really interested in Milei’s plan to use the dollar as the national currency. They are prepared to stop using the peso completely, regardless of whether Milei can effectively start using the US currency.
A group of people who make popular videos on TikTok.
These promises are being talked about a lot, but if you go to the streets of Buenos Aires, it’s difficult to even know that he exists.
The walls and billboards have lots of posters with happy candidates asking people to vote. But no one has Javier Milei’s face on them.
And that’s because he’s working with a large group of popular social media users, who are sharing his message, mostly on TikTok.
Iñaki Gutierrez is part of a group. He is a 22-year-old student who studies law and economics. He viewed Brexit as a source of motivation for how to lead a political campaign.
“Iñaki says he saw a lot of campaigning on Facebook. He was amazed by the amount of money the Leave campaign had and how it influenced communication. ”
So he went to talk to Javier Milei and convinced him that it was important for him to have accounts on social media. Iñaki and his girlfriend are leading Javier Milei’s campaign on TikTok now. The couple also has a lot of fans.
A group of people who make popular videos on TikTok.
These promises are being talked about a lot, but if you go to the streets of Buenos Aires, it’s difficult to even know that he exists.
The walls and billboards have lots of posters with happy candidates asking people to vote. But no one has Javier Milei’s face on them.
And that’s because he’s working with a large group of popular social media users, who are sharing his message, mostly on TikTok.
Iñaki Gutierrez is part of a group. He is a 22-year-old student who studies law and economics. He viewed Brexit as a source of motivation for how to lead a political campaign.
“Iñaki says he saw a lot of campaigning on Facebook. He was amazed by the amount of money the Leave campaign had and how it influenced communication. ”
So he went to talk to Javier Milei and convinced him that it was important for him to have accounts on social media. Iñaki and his girlfriend are leading Javier Milei’s campaign on TikTok now. The couple also has a lot of fans.
However, Malena Haboba, who supports Massa, is feeling concerned about the future.
“According to her, if Milei becomes president, everything, including the simplest things, will be in danger. ” “I am concerned about women being punished for choosing to have an abortion – it could result in women being forced back into traditional household roles. ”
Javier Milei’s opponents are attempting to simplify and expose the political discussion by debunking the catchy phrases and false information that have influenced numerous political campaigns. And a lot of people are replying on TikTok, which is the platform his supporters are most familiar with.
Caro from the TikTok account @indisciplinadxs explains that their content aims to disprove unfounded ideas that are being spread in the media. They created the account in response to Javier Milei’s increasing popularity.
It is important for us to talk about Argentina’s political history, like the social and economic history. This helps us understand that what he is suggesting is not new, it has already been tried before and it did not work. It had a lot of negative effects on our country’s economy and society.
But if the surveys are accurate, voters are not concerned. As he spoke to a full stadium during his final campaign event on Wednesday, the crowd strongly connected with this unconventional politician wearing a worn leather jacket.
They raised their fists and shouted “Freedom” loudly, showing their excitement about what he promised in his campaign. In a country where many people have a hard time every day, the chance to try something completely different – even if it’s uncertain – is attractive.
Two trainee nurses from Namibia are in trouble because they made a video of themselves dancing in a health clinic and posted it on TikTok.
The two people said they were happy and having fun because they helped a person have a baby safely, according to the local news.
The privately owned Welwitchia Health Training Centre said the dancing was “unacceptable behavior” and called them in front of a panel to address it.
The biggest student group in Namibia wants a just and equal opportunity to be heard.
Charmaine Keandra and Smart Muranda are wearing their nursing uniforms and dancing in front of a bed that doesn’t have a patient.
The Namibian newspaper said that the video was made two weeks ago at the health center.
The person who was sick went to a special room where they had surgery. The surgery was successful and the baby was healthy. The mother was also healthy and doing well. “Later, since we were feeling joyful, we chose to create a TikTok video,” a student informed the newspaper.
The student who put up the video, which lots of people talked about and shared, has now taken it down.
The Welwitchia health centre wrote a letter saying that the two trainees did not follow the rules for students and made the institution look bad.
The Student Union of Namibia (Sun) has accused the health institution of being unfair. They say that in the past, nurses were seen dancing the Jerusalem challenge on different platforms, but none of them were fired.
Benhard Kavau, the president of Sun, said to the BBC that a nurse who feels happy is more likely to be effective at their job, regardless of the university’s rules.
He said the two students should only be told and taught when to record videos, instead of being kicked out.
MrKavau said the group is prepared to take legal action if our request is not taken seriously.
The students had a meeting with the disciplinary committee on Friday, as informed by the union leader.
The institution did not reply right away when the BBC asked for a comment.
Nigerian student hailing from Niger Delta University, known by the TikTok username @whisky_dennis, has courageously shared the challenging circumstances he is currently facing while pursuing his education.
His heartfelt plea for assistance has garnered a sympathetic response from compassionate individuals on the internet.
In the viral video, @whisky_dennis can be observed tearfully addressing the camera, as he candidly reveals the immense difficulties he has encountered since embarking on his journey through higher education.
With tears in his eyes, he candidly acknowledges the absence of immediate family support due to his late father and his mother’s occupation as a farmer, resulting in a lack of both financial and emotional backing.
“I’m dying” – Nigerian student starving in school cries out from his room #INDAFRICA Lawyer Akoto Ampaw | Ama Governor | Mr Ibu | Finland | Nancy Pelosi | M.anifest pic.twitter.com/rKlUWpKCkh
“Since I came to this school, things have been so hard for me. Nobody to help me. My dad is late. My mom is a farmer. No family. No friends. I’m dying. I’ve been starving for weeks. I’m dying,” the video caption read.
As the video circulated, numerous netizens reached out with offers of help, ranging from financial assistance to emotional support.
Netizens Reactions… Lõvêr girl said; “It is hard for some people and easy for some we are different so be strong for yourself and your mum okay ♥️ drop aza.”
Jennylola95 said: “Some people no just get sense, which wan be me. Way no go to school. I no get sense, abi? Nobody is the cause of ur misfortune, naw.”
user1861959487362 said: “Education is not by force bro if it not working please go home many successful people out there did not even smell education please be strong.”
mark said; “If its seriously that hard so badly for you. “Eat first before school. “That money you are spending fir textbooks and school fees bro use am chop…”
simply_maha said; “The first thing that came to my mind was, but u get data,but I remember av been in same shoes, most times sef, but wait na iPhone u dey us.”
favouribeneme8 said; “I no get sponsor so I no bother go, but I believe say them no Dey big pass school….. I go make am and I go still go school.”
TikTok and Meta have been asked by the EU to give them information about any false information that might have been shared on their platforms about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Before, they were told to give answers to the group’s worries within 24 hours.
However, unlike this most recent demand, that request did not have the power of the law behind it.
Both companies have one week to reply. According to the new rules, the European Union (EU) has the authority to start an official investigation if it is not happy with the answers it receives.
The EU is worried that there might be more terrorist and violent content, and hate speech being shared, because of the recent attack by Hamas on Israel.
This happened a week after the EU reached out to X, which was previously called Twitter, about the same worries.
X said that they had taken down many accounts that were connected to Hamas from their platform.
Social media companies are experiencing an increase in false information about the Israel and Hamas conflict. This includes edited pictures and videos with incorrect labels.
In October, EU commissioner Thierry Breton sent letters to the top leaders of Meta, TikTok, X, and Google. He asked them to reply within 24 hours.
But these letters were not official requests that follow the new EU laws that decide what can be published on the internet.
Now, with the Digital Services Act (DSA), the companies have to reply within the given time limits.
If you don’t follow the DSA, you could get fined up to 6% of your company’s total income, or your platform might be suspended.
Two deadlines instead of one.
Under the DSA, the Commission has given Meta and TikTok two specific times when they must complete certain actions.
The companies have been asked to give the information about “the crisis response” by 25 October, and they need to answer the questions about keeping the election fair by 8 November.
TikTok has been given the job of showing the European Commission how it is keeping children safe online by the deadline in November.
When asked for more information before, Mr. Breton said that Meta needs to show that they have taken action quickly, carefully, and impartially.
He explained that TikTok has a special responsibility to keep kids and teens safe by preventing violent content and terrorist messages.
Tiktok agreed that they received the EU’s request.
A spokesperson from TikTok said that they will release their first report about transparency next week. The report will provide more details about their efforts to ensure safety for their European users.
The BBC has asked Meta to share their thoughts or opinions on something.
Popular Ghanaian Tiktoker, actress, and influencer, Martina Dwamena mostly known as Asantewaa has revealed some interesting details about her life and career in a recent video on her YouTube channel.
In the eleven minutes 30 seconds video, Asantewaa captivated her followers with lively updates about her multifaceted life, which includes being a professional nurse, an entrepreneur, and a social media influencer, and then dropped a ‘bombshell’ that left her fans both surprised and intrigued.
“For those of you who do not know, I am a professional nurse,” Martina confidently proclaimed. “I have completed nursing school, I have my pin, I have my cert, I practice as a nurse, and I have been posted. But I also came up with my letter that I wanted to be a voluntary nurse and so I call the shots, okay”
Martina, who is known for her unique and energetic content, went on to explain her unconventional approach to her nursing career
“I do not go to work with a timetable. Like Martina, my real name is Martina, my official name is Martina. SoMartina is supposed to come Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays like on a normal schedule or on our normal timetable. No. Because my name is not on our payroll and I go to work when I want to. When I feel like this month I want to go to work. Then I’m really doing it because I’m a voluntary nurse, okay.”
Martina was quick to reassure her fans that she hasn’t abandoned her nursing career. “So that is that. People who didn’t know and people who were thinking I have stopped nursing…[as if] I have decided to quit. … I haven’t, I’m still a nurse and I’m even still learning.”
Asantewaa also shared her ambition to take it a step further. “Like I keep saying, one day I might become a doctor. That’s my serious, serious passion. Sometime to come people will see me in my white robe. So look out for that.”
Asantewaa, the TikTok sensation with over 3M followers and 967K fans on IG, is also a talented actress who has starred in several movies and TV shows. She is set to premiere her new movie, The Royal Curse, on her YouTube channel today, October 9th 2023.
With over 3M followers on TikTok and 967K on IG, Asantewaa is not only a hilarious and creative video maker, but also a skilled actress who has appeared in various movies and TV shows. Today, October 9th 2023, she will launch her new movie, The Royal Curse, on her YouTube channel.
The Senegalese government has upheld the ban it imposed on the social media platform TikTok back in August.
Officials had implemented the ban, alleging that TikTok had become a platform of choice for individuals spreading hateful and subversive messages that posed a threat to the country’s stability.
Senegal’s Communications Minister, Moussa Bocar Thiam, stated on Thursday that TikTok would only be reinstated if the company agreed to a pact allowing for the removal of accounts promoting what he referred to as inflammatory content.
“For the time being, the restriction is being maintained pending the conclusion of a comprehensive written agreement,” Mr Thiam said, following discussions with representatives of the company.
The ban on TikTok was prompted by the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.
Government officials asserted that the app had been employed to disseminate “hateful and subversive messages,” which contributed to the country’s instability amid the violent protests triggered by Mr. Sonko’s detention.
Furthermore, the government has stipulated that TikTok must commit to providing equitable compensation to its Senegalese content creators as a condition for reinstatement.
Senegal‘s government is still not allowing people to use TikTok, a social media app, since they banned it in August.
The authorities banned the app because they believed that it was used by bad people to spread harmful and rebellious messages that could harm the country.
Senegal’s Communications Minister, Moussa Bocar Thiam, announced on Thursday that TikTok will only be allowed back if they agree to remove accounts that promote harmful content.
“Currently, we will continue to have restrictions until we can reach a final agreement after discussing with company representatives,” Mr Thiam explained.
Officials said that the app was being used to send harmful and rebellious messages that were causing problems in the country as people started protesting violently after Mr. Sonko was arrested.
The government also wants TikTok to promise to pay Senegalese content creators fairly before they allow the app to come back.
Renowned ItalianTikTok influencer Lorenzo Delle Femmine, celebrated for his heartwarming videos chronicling family life that captivated millions of fans, tragically passed away on Monday, October 2, following a cardiac arrest.
Known as “Mister Pella Pazzo” by his 1.8 million TikTok followers, the 40-year-old influencer was reportedly enjoying playtime with his children at their residence in Casalnuovo di Napoli, near Naples, when he suddenly fell ill.
According to reports by Jam Press, Femmine collapsed and remained motionless on the floor, prompting immediate action from his family members, who rushed him to Villa dei Fiori Hospital in Acerra.
His wife, Assunta, confirmed his death in an Instagram post, writing, “I feel so bad. I can’t believe it.”
Despite the efforts of doctors, he passed away shortly thereafter.
Right before Femmine’s death, Assunta, who went by the nickname Susy across social media, posted a video to TikTok updating followers on her husband’s condition.
Lina Lutfiawati, who has over two million fans on the platform, was found guilty of encouraging hatred based on religion. This goes against the strict blasphemy laws in the south-east Asian country.
In March, she shared a TikTok video from the island of Bali. In the video, she can be heard saying ‘Bismillah’, which means ‘in the name of God. She then bites into crispy pork skin.
The person who is famous on social media, and is Muslim, said she ate the meal in the popular tourist place because she was interested to see what it was like.
In the video, she makes a disgusted face while chewing.
The video caused a lot of anger in Indonesia, which is the biggest country where most people are Muslim. They got upset because eating pork is not allowed in their religion.
Another person from Indonesia told the police that Ms Lutfiawati, who is 33 years old, had eaten pork skin even though she is a Muslim. She was officially accused in May.
A court in the city of Palembang on Sumatra found her guilty of intentionally spreading information to make people hate each other because of their religion. She was given a punishment of two years in jail and was told to give 250 million rupiah (£13,155) as a penalty. If she doesn’t give money, her time in jail might get longer by three months.
In an interview with a local news station called MetroTV, Ms. Lutfiawati admitted that she made a mistake, but she did not anticipate such a severe consequence.
The law used to accuse her has been criticized by human rights groups and activists in Indonesia for a long time. They say it unfairly targets religious groups that are not in the majority.
Usman Hamid, the leader of Amnesty International Indonesia, said that the law has been misused to silence disagreement or opposing opinions.
Last year, in the capital city of Jakarta, six workers from a bar and restaurant chain were accused of blasphemy. The accusation came after they ran a promotion where men named Mohammad could get a free bottle of gin every Thursday.
Socialite Hajia4Reall recently joined TikTok with the intention of reconnecting with her fans, whom she openly admits to missing.
However, her well-intentioned effort was met with criticism from certain online users.
During a live session on TikTok, an unexpected guest appeared on her feed, offering unsolicited advice that she should take a hiatus from social media, particularly in light of her ongoing fraud case.
Hajia4Reall, whose real name is Mona Montrage, is currently facing legal proceedings in the UK for allegedly being involved in wire fraud totaling more than $2 million.
As part of her legal situation, she has been placed under a $500,000 bond and is under monitoring through an ankle tracker.
The concerned fan expressed worry for Hajia4Reall’s overall well-being and suggested that stepping back from social media could potentially help her avoid undue stress and negative interactions.
Hajia4Reall, however, did not receive this advice well.
She retorted that she views social media as a platform for human connection, asserting that she is a participant in the collective human experience it offers.
She raised the question of whether she, as an individual, doesn’t deserve the chance to engage in online conversations just like anyone else.
In response to the advice, she called on her followers to empathize with her perspective.
Moving forward, the artist intends to conduct frequent live streaming sessions as a means to interact with her audience and share her emotions and experiences.
In spite of her prominently large pregnancy belly, Mildred, a woman renowned for her captivating TikTok posts, has astounded her followers as she delivers a single baby.
Throughout her pregnancy journey, Mildred had been sharing her experiences, showcasing her prominently expanding belly, which led many to speculate whether she was expecting twins.
However, Mildred’s recent video announcement has illuminated the authentic nature of her pregnancy.
Documenting her pregnancy journey through a captivating series of videos, Mildred had been actively engaging her audience.
With each passing week, her baby belly had expanded, intensifying the assumptions and excitement of her followers.
Given the conspicuous size of her pregnancy belly, her fans had been anticipating the arrival of not just one, but possibly two babies.
This anticipation reached its climax when Mildred finally unveiled a post-birth video, disclosing a delightful twist that had remained unforeseen.
In the video, Mildred exuberantly introduced her baby boy to the world, conclusively dispelling any uncertainties surrounding her pregnancy.
Her elation and bliss were palpable as she proudly presented her baby to the camera, radiating happiness and contentment.
Netizens reactions… @Dydy Diamond Lova said; “Only one? That baby had a luxurious villa inside your tummy! Congratulations mama!”
@Iam.Itunu commented; “He’s supposed to start school immediately o.”
@Debby asked; “OMG. Just one? Congrats momma!”
@MIRACLE reacted; “Congratulations! All thanks to God almighty.”
@phaswanaphaswanas said; “God bless you and the baby.”
@Princess Pamilerin said; “Congratulations! I tap from this blessing.”
@Barbara Sanders said; “Awwww! What a gorgeous baby.
On Sunday, the Somali government issued a directive to prohibit the use of TikTok, Telegram, and an online betting website, asserting that these platforms were being exploited by “terrorist” entities for the dissemination of propaganda.
This decision has been made in anticipation of the forthcoming second phase of the military operation against the radical Islamist group Shebab. This group has been engaged in a violent uprising against the central government in Mogadishu for over 15 years.
In an official announcement, the Ministry of Communication and Technology declared that it had instructed internet service providers to terminate access to the aforementioned three platforms by August 24th. Failure to comply would result in legal measures being taken, the specifics of which were not detailed.
As per the ministry’s statement, TikTok, Telegram, and the 1XBET website are utilized by “terrorist” entities and “entities promoting immorality” to distribute graphic images and videos that propagate violence and manipulate public perception.
According to the ministry, banning them will “speed up the war (…) against the terrorists who have spilled the blood of the people of Somalia”.
Starting from August 2022, the Somali military has been actively involved in an offensive operation against the Shebab, a group with affiliations to al-Qaeda. This operation is being conducted in collaboration with local clan militias, and it’s receiving support from African Union forces as well as American airstrikes.
Although Shebab militants were expelled from Mogadishu in 2011, they have entrenched themselves deeply in expansive rural regions. From these areas, they persistently launch attacks targeting both security forces and civilians.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud is committed to eradicating Islamist militias from the nation. It is anticipated that he might imminently unveil the second stage of the military campaign aimed at countering the Shebab in the southern parts of the country.
The Ministry of Communications and Technology in Somalia has issued an order to internet service providers to suspend access to social media platforms TikTok and Telegram, along with the gambling site 1xBet.
Minister of Communications and Technology, Jama Hassan Khalif, issued this directive in a statement released on Sunday, August 20.
The decision was grounded in concerns related to security and counter-terrorism efforts, as well as the perceived adverse influence of these platforms on the lives of Somali youth.
Khalif said Somalia has resorted to the controversial ban to ”protect the moral behavior of the Somali community when using communication and internet tools.”
The statement partly read; “In a bid to accelerate the war and elimination of the terrorists who have shed the blood of the Somali people, the minister of communication and technology instructs companies that provide internet services to suspend TikTok, Telegram, and 1XBET betting applications, which terrorists and groups responsible for spreading immorality use to spread graphic clips, photos and mislead society.”
The ready availability of these platforms has led to a significant increase in their usage among the younger population, sparking apprehensions regarding the potential for adverse influences and exploitation.
In Kenya, the National Assembly is presently examining a petition that calls for a TikTok ban, citing concerns over explicit content and a lack of adequate regulation.
A group of intrepid drivers who embarked on a journey from Ghana to London, Wanderlust have gained online recognition.
A TikTok video by @kooemmaone showcased the achievement, revealing that a car company in the UK was preparing to auction these remarkable vehicles.
The question of whether these history-making vehicles should be sold abroad or returned to Ghana as monuments was raised by @kooemmaone, sparking diverse opinions among commenters.
Some advocated for the cars to be brought back to Ghana, while others suggested selling them in the UK.
The travelers’ journey also involved car repairs during their trip, which were documented and shared online.
Their feat has garnered praise and attention, with various individuals expressing pride and suggesting potential destinations for these notable vehicles.
While the journey generated admiration, it also ignited discussions about the future of these vehicles, their significance, and their impact on tourism and national history.
Kenyan MPs and public are debating whether TikTok should be banned in response to a petition.
Bob Ndolo, a Kenyan, presented the petition, which was discussed in the Kenyan parliament on Tuesday.
Mr. Ndolo requested that TikTok be made illegal, expressing worries that the platform imperils Kenya’s cultural and religious values.
The petitioner added that TikTok’s lax regulation in Kenya was to blame for the rise in abusive and inappropriate content on the platform.
According to Moses Wetangula, speaker of the Kenyan parliament, “the petition decries that while TikTok has grown in popularity among young people in Kenya, the content that is being shared on the platform is inappropriate, thus promoting violence, explicit sexual content, hate speech, vulgar language, and offensive behaviour, which is a serious threat to the cultural and religious values of Kenya.”
Mr. Ndolo continued by saying that the ban will protect Kenyans from the detrimental impacts of TikTok, such as addiction, which could impair kids’ academic performance and mental health. Mr. Ndolo also raised worry that the app might be gathering or disclosing personal information on Kenyans without their consent.
The proposed ban has received support from certain MPs and civilians, but others contend that it will hinder Kenya’s technology advancement and have an adverse financial impact on countless young Kenyans who make content for TikTok.
Instead of outright banning the platform, other politicians, including the majority leader in parliament Kimani Ichung’wah, have suggested stronger content regulations.
Senegal has blocked TikTok, saying it’s threatening the stability of the country.
The media reports that it’s an attempt to clampdown on critics using the platform.
Senegal’s Minister of Communication Moussa Bocar, has announced that TikTok has been suspended because it is being used to propagate “hateful and subversive messages threatening the stability of the country.
“The well-known social networking app was referred to as the “preferred network for people with malicious intent” by the speaker.
The actions came a few days after fiery opposition politician Ousmane Sonko was detained and accused of a number of offenses, including inciting a riot.
During demonstrations protesting the politician’s incarceration in the city of Ziguinchor, where he serves as mayor, three people were slain.
Earlier this week, the minister issued an order temporarily shutting down mobile data, and telecom firms were instructed to follow it.
Senegal’s Minister of Communication Moussa Bocar, has announced that TikTok has been suspended because it is being used to propagate “hateful and subversive messages threatening the stability of the country.”
The well-known social networking app was referred to as the “preferred network for people with malicious intent” by the speaker.
The actions came a few days after fiery opposition politician Ousmane Sonko was detained and accused of a number of offenses, including inciting a riot.
During demonstrations protesting the politician’s incarceration in the city of Ziguinchor, where he serves as mayor, three people were slain.
Earlier this week, the minister issued an order temporarily shutting down mobile data, and telecom firms were instructed to follow it.
A video streaming app owned by China’s ByteDance, TikTok, has stepped up its competition with other social media giants by introducing a new feature that allows text-only posts.
This addition offers users “another way to express themselves” alongside their usual photo and video posts. Recently, TikTok entered the music streaming market, launching TikTok Music as a rival to platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
The app now provides three posting options: photos, videos, or text. Users can also customize their text posts by adding sound, location, or Duets, which are video reactions to other users’ posts.
“These features make it so your text posts are just as dynamic and interactive as any video or photo post,” TikTok said.
According to TikTok, these new features make text posts as dynamic and interactive as any video or photo post.
In addition to music streaming and text posts, TikTok has been testing other features, including a landscape mode with select users worldwide.
In 2021, TikTok became the world’s most popular online destination, surpassing even the US search engine giant Google in terms of hits. The app boasted more than one billion active users globally that year.
As the competition between social media firms intensifies, companies like Instagram owner Meta and Elon Musk’s rebranded Twitter platform, X, have been making significant moves.
Meta’s Threads platform, for example, quickly gained over 100 million users within five days of its launch in 100 countries.
At the same time, Twitter underwent a logo change, replacing the blue bird branding with a logo featuring a white X on a black background. Additionally, Mr. Musk mentioned that the term “tweets” will be replaced with “x’s.”
Recently, Haaland was photographed alongside Kim Kardashian at a Dolce & Gabbana event, where he was accompanied by rapper Future and singer Doyoung.
Indeed, the D&G brand ambassador has been ridiculed by some for his outlandish outfit choices, with one fan writing: “Bro you need a stylist tf!! “, while another added: “Grandma wants her dress back .
However, at an EA Sports event in which Haaland was pictured in a garish green outfit, it was the City striker who had the last laugh, beating TikTok influencer Iran Ferreira 7-2.
Haaland’s gaming updates were part of the official reveal of the new EA SPORTS FC game on July 13.
The new rebrand of EA Sports’ famous football video game series will follow tradition by being launched in autumn 2023, amid a huge amount of hype from fans of the franchise. Currently, it’s rumoured that the game will be launched on September 29.
Haaland might be getting plenty of attention for his fashion choices and celebrity video gaming adventures right now, but soon he’ll be in the thick of an intense pre-season training camp with Manchester City.
The club fly over to Asia next week to play fixtures in South Korea and Japan, with the first friendly taking place at Tokyo’s National Stadium against Yokohama F Marinos on July 24.
Dr. Jessica Gold was exhausted after working another weekend shift, so she gave in to the impulse to watch TV and sleep for the majority of the day when she got home.
She was bed rotting, as Generation Z would say.
A lot of TikTok users, including Gold, have commented on the most recent self-care trend, in which people share videos of themselves curled up under several blankets, frequently with a phone or snack in hand.
According to Gold, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the expression refers to purposefully remaining in bed all day and “rotting” there.
“I think it is OK to do if you need it,” she said, “and I have let myself do it, as long as you understand why you are doing it and turn to other coping skills as well.”
Similar to spending a leisurely day, bed rotting is “more of an immobile term, with less activity,” according to Gold.
She said that even on a lazy day, you can still enjoy yourself and relax while maybe spending time with friends and family.
According to psychologist Simon A. Rego, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, chief of psychology, and director of psychology training at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, there are probably many benefits to taking time to rest, recharge, and reset.
But he added that balance is crucial for wellbeing. According to several studies, being in bed for too long can affect your mood and raise stress.
“Be mindful and avoid overdoing it, no matter how good it may feel in the moment,” he said.
Lounging in bed for more than a day or two is concerning and could point to different mental health issues, Gold said.
“The urge to rot in bed all day, especially if it happens more and more, is likely about something more than just catching up on sleep or needing a day to do nothing, but avoiding the feelings, stress or pain of being awake,” she said.
This sort of behavior has been linked to symptoms of depression and anxiety, among other mental health illnesses, Gold added.
Bed rotting could be affecting more than just your mental health — it could also have a negative impact on your sleep.
From a sleep science perspective, “bed rotting is exactly the opposite of what we want people to do,” said Kelly Glazer Baron, associate professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
The bed should only be used for sleep and intimacy, not for activities such as watching television, working or eating, she said.
As a general guideline, if you are not asleep within 30 minutes of getting into bed or are awake for more than 20 minutes during the night, you should get out of bed, Baron said.
If you want to relax somewhere comfortable, opt for a couch or comfy chair, she recommended.
“Having fatigue after a long day is normal, but if it is interfering with your work, social life or other important activities, then it is a good idea to discuss your symptoms with a doctor,” she said.
Bed rotting can allow you to isolate yourself, ignore your feelings, and possibly prevent you from participating in self-care activities that can help you, Gold said.
Recharging activities can energize us and “better prepare us for the inevitable stressors we face daily,” Rego said.
But don’t feel pressured to participate in an activity that someone else finds relaxing, he said, because one person’s “activity may be a chore to another.” Instead, learn coping skills that you want to do and think of them like hobbies, Gold said.
She listed some alternatives like hanging out with friends, working out, or engaging in mindfulness exercises.
Try reading a book or keeping a journal if you don’t want to leave the house, said Gold.
Speaking with a therapist might also be helpful, she added. According to Gold, therapy can assist you in developing new coping mechanisms, identifying the source of your bed rotting, and figuring out whether you are experiencing any mental health problems.
An Africa-facing music streaming and download platform, Boomplay, has announced a partnership with the global short videos brand, TikTok.
This collaboration aims to promote trending content through mutual playlists and content discovery.
Boomplay will host a playlist featuring TikTok trending sounds, while TikTok will include Boomplay’s top songs on its discovery and sound pages.
The playlists, TikTokPicks and BoomplayPicks, will showcase the top trending songs from both platforms each week, with TikTok’s list focusing on user-created content and popular songs.
By merging the worlds of music and creativity, Boomplay and TikTok aim to connect artists, creators, and fans, providing them with expanded reach and opportunities.
Through shared custom-curated playlists, the partnership will bring African rhythm, dance, and storytelling to a wider audience.
“Boomplay continues to expand its strategic partnerships with global brands to offer artists creative and innovative channels to access their target audience while providing extensions for content promotion. We are very excited to partner with TikTok, one of the largest and fastest growing platforms in the entertainment tech industry, with great creation properties perfectly suited to the music community,” said Paul Azumah-Ayitey, Public Relations Manager at Boomplay.
Commenting on the partnership, Boniswa Sidwaba, TikTok’s Head of Content Programming for Sub-Saharan Africa said, “TikTok is hugely popular across Sub-Saharan Africa with a thriving community using our platform to share their love of music, sport, comedy, trends, fashion and the diverse culture that makes the region so unique. With this partnership with Boomplay, we look to encourage our creative community to continue to use African music as the soundtrack for great content development while celebrating and taking African musicians to the world.”
Boomplay and TikTok are optimistic about the success of their partnership as they aim to amplify trending sounds to their ever-expanding user bases.
With millions of users already engaging with content on both platforms, this collaboration will enable creators and content owners to directly interact with their target audience in a creative, fun, and meaningful manner, particularly highlighting African music.
By leveraging the strengths of both platforms, Boomplay and TikTok aspire to enhance the user experience and provide a platform for African artists and creators to showcase their talent to a wider audience.
The partnership aims to foster a more engaging and interactive environment, where users can immerse themselves in the diverse and vibrant African music scene.
A fast-rising Afrobeats artist, Olivetheboy, believes that his recent achievement as one of the most streamed Ghanaian musicians will serve as motivation for other aspiring acts to persevere in pursuing their dreams.
His elation stems from being named the number one artist on the official Chartmetric list of the top-five most streamed Ghanaian artistes in the first half of 2023.
This recognition was compiled by renowned music data analytics giants, Soundcharts and Chartmetrics, who provide comprehensive streaming, social, and audience data for artists and music industry professionals.
The report analyzed streaming metrics from January to June 2023 across popular platforms like Spotify, Audiomack, Tiktok, Boomplay, and YouTube.
Olivetheboy’s debut song, “Goodsin,” surpassed tracks by acclaimed artists such as King Promise and Stonebwoy, securing the coveted first position.
Adding to his accomplishments, a recent video surfaced showing Nigerian artist Mr Eazi and King Promise enthusiastically singing Olivetheboy’s lyrics while partying at The Republic Bar & Grill in Accra. This endorsement further solidifies Olivetheboy’s growing brand.
In a conversation with Graphic Showbiz, Olivetheboy, who released his debut song in May of this year, expressed his belief that his musical achievements will inspire his peers to persist despite the challenges that often discourage young artists from pursuing their dreams.
Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George, has taken to taunting the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following their defeat in the fiercely contested Assin North by-election.
With biting remarks and relentless jibes, the legislator persistently ’s taunts serve as a reminder of the NPP’s failure to secure victory in Assin North, leaving the party on the receiving end of his unabated ridicule.
In response to a TikTok video compilation created by @zeinabalhassan, featuring sorrowful reactions of prominent members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following their defeat in the Assin North by-election, the lawmaker expressed the view that NPP members should be offered comfort and sympathy as a means to recover from the unexpected loss.
“Take a moment and sympathise with an NPP person by you,” Sam George tweeted with laughing emojis.
The Assin North by-election ended on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, with the NDC candidate, James Gyakye Quayson, garnering a total of 17,245 votes, representing 57.56% of the total votes cast.
Despite a pending trial in which the State is charging James Gyakye Quayson with forgery and perjury, the residents of Assin North massively voted for the then-removed MP to represent them in parliament.
The MP-elect for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson is expected to be sworn in by Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.
On Thursday, June 22, 2023, Betway, one of the well-known online gambling organizations, started a scratch-and-win campaign for consumers, particularly those who use its casino suite.
The casino suit has several games that customers can play to enjoy themselves to de-stress.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb, the Country Manager of Betway, Kwabena Oppong Nkrumah, said customers who play up to 10 games in the casino suite stand a chance to get a voucher to scratch and win any prize written on it.
He noted that Betway is giving away up to GH¢10million in prizes to scratch and win promo winners.
“A lot of players know Betway to offer sport betting to our customers and not a lot of players have had the opportunity to experience our casino suit. So today, we brought players into our casino. They are here to experience a few things,” he said.
“Betway is giving you scratch and win. Play any of the games in our casino’s suite, play it up to 10 times and you get a scratch voucher, scratch it and you get a price.”
Media personality, Giovanni Caleb, Influencers on TikTok including Dancegodlloyd, among other public figures graced the occasion.
A TikTok content creator is being taken to court for posting a video in which individuals invaded someone’s home without permission as part of a joke. People saw the video on the internet.
A person named Bacari-Bronze O’Garro who lives in Hackney, a place in east London, was accused on Tuesday for not following a notice that was meant to keep the community safe.
A teenager called Mizzy became popular on an app for doing funny tricks, using a fake name.
In a statement, the Met confirmed the charge follows an investigation into social media footage.
Detective chief superintendent James Conway, of the Central East Command Unit, responsible for policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: ‘Understandably there has been extensive comment on this case in the media and on social media.
‘Now that an individual has been charged, I would ask that the judicial process be respected and allowed to take its proper course.’
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway said: ‘I do not underestimate the widespread upset, distress and concern that these videos caused.
‘Some people have referred to these as ‘prank’ videos, but I hope that this significant development demonstrates just how seriously we have been taking this investigation since this footage began circulating online.
‘A number of these videos were produced, impacting on many different people and our investigation remains ongoing as we seek to build a strong picture of both the activity featured in the footage and impact on the public.’
Two Tunisian students who were detained for their involvement in a satirical song that criticized the police have been released by a Tunisian court.
The court’s decision came following a call from President Kais Saied, who deemed their detention “unacceptable” in light of the public outcry.
Youssef Chelbi, 27, and Dhia Nsir, 26, had shared a video on TikTok and Facebook that scrutinized the treatment of detainees by the police and voiced opposition to laws concerning drug use.
Their arrest triggered widespread online criticism, with many Tunisians sharing the song in solidarity.
This year, there has been a surge in the arrests of prominent figures who oppose President Saied, as he has governed by decree since assuming power in 2021.
On Thursday, numerous journalists staged a demonstration to protest what they perceive as repressive anti-terror laws aimed at intimidating the media.
Holding signs outside the national journalists’ union headquarters, they asserted that press freedom is crucial for preserving liberty.
Ghanaian musician, Kuami Eugene, has made waves on social media after he challenged his lookalike to match his new hairstyle.
In a video posted on his Instagram account two days ago, Kuami Eugene playfully taunted his doppelgänger, questioning what he would do about his changed hairstyle.
The challenge garnered attention and left fans eagerly anticipating the response.
On May 17, 2023, the much-anticipated response arrived with Kuami Eugene’s lookalike, who goes by the name Steve Quamz, posting a video on TikTok, showcasing his newly styled hair, which is identical to the musician’s.
In the video, the lookalike confidently responds to the challenge, saying, “Kuami, what are you saying? You threw a challenge, and I have done it for you.”
The video quickly gained traction on various social media platforms, with fans praising the look-alike’s attention to detail in recreating Kuami Eugene‘s signature hairstyle.
Many viewers have also shared their thoughts on the challenge, claiming they find it hilarious given the striking resemblance between the two individuals and commending the lookalike’s commitment to embracing the challenge.
A man‘s images showcasing his feminine traits have gone viral on the internet.
Siphosethu Sihawu, who goes by the username @siphosethusihawu8 on TikTok, has gained massive attention from netizens worldwide with his photos showing off his baby face and curvy hips.
In his posts, Sihawu proudly flaunts his feminine body shape while making it clear that he is a fully grown man. The South African has sparked a lot of curiosity among his followers who have been left wondering how he ended up with such unique features.
The images of Sihawu have gone viral, and his followers have expressed mixed feelings about the man with the feminine features. Some netizens were amazed by his stunning appearance, while others made fun of him.
@tymerjnr5 wrote, “If ladies and gentlemen is a human being.” While @everyone_changed expressed their own struggles, saying, “I have curves too. They always laugh at me.” Others like @o.d.obaddest seemed to mourn for Sihawu’s masculinity, stating, “We lost another bro.”
The attention that Sihawu is receiving is unprecedented. Despite the mixed reactions, he has remained unbothered by the comments, continuing to share more photos and videos showcasing his unique features.
The man with feminine features has become an overnight sensation, with his account receiving thousands of new followers daily. As a result, he has gained notoriety across social media platforms as his photos continue to be shared by users worldwide.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Sihawu, but he is enjoying his newfound fame while continuing to share his remarkable story with the world.
TV/Radio presenter and social media influencer,Felicia Osei will join Nana Mcbrown on Onua Tv’s Showtime Show as the co-host.
She is known for her engaging and interactive online presence especially on Tiktok, and fans are excited to see how she will translate that to her role on the show.
As social media correspondent, Felicia Osei will be responsible for engaging with fans on various social media platforms during the show’s broadcast.
She will also provide updates on the latest trends, memes, and reactions from fans, adding a new dimension to the show’s coverage.
Wearing a floral print wrap dress, Felicia Osei was radiant and exceptional as she worked closely with Nana Ama McBrown to the amazement of fans as she read their social media reactions.
The two presenters are expected to create an unbeatable combination, providing an exciting viewing experience for fans.
With the addition of Felicia Osei as social media correspondent, the show is set to expand its reach and engage even more with fans onsocial media.
Viewers can expect to see the duo share their views on the latest entertainment news, trends and events, and also engage in interesting conversations with guests.
Fans of the show are already excited about the new development, taking to social media to share their anticipation for what is to come.
“@OnuaTV, tell @Osei_Feliciaa, the next time she doesn’t read my tweet,she has a nut to crack. 🤣🤣🤣Much love ❤️,” a user posted
The announcement has sparked a lot of buzz, with many commending the show’s producers for bringing in someone as talented and experienced as Felicia Osei.
A court has heard that a Tiktok celebrity allegedly killed her mum’s young lover by “ramming him off the road” as he threatened to make a sex tape public.
Saqib Hussain and his companion Mohammed Hashim Ijazuddin, both 21 years old, were allegedly killed in February of last year by Mahek Bukhari, 23, and her mother Ansreen Bukhari.
The Skoda Fabia Mr. Ijazuddin was driving when it was forced off the A46 in Leicestershire and “split in two” against a tree, killing the two men, who were both from Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Leicester Crown Court heard the 999 call to police made by front-seat passenger Mr Hussain just moments before his death.
He claimed their car was being ‘rammed off the road’ by balaclava-wearing assailants following in two pursuing cars.
In the recording, Mr Hussain said: ‘They’re trying to kill me, they’re trying to kill me. I’m just getting rammed off the road.
He can then be heard saying: ‘Please, I am begging you.’
Mr Hussain was heard to say ‘Oh my God’, before there was a scream, with the call cutting off abruptly at the sound of an impact.
Mohammed Hashim Ijazuddin died in the collision on February 11, 2022 (Picture: SWNS)
Mr Ijazuddin agreed to drive his friend to Leicester that night and had been ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’, with the favour to Mr Hussain turning out ‘to be a tragic and fatal mistake’, prosecutors said.
Opening the Crown’s case, Collingwood Thompson KC told jurors it had been the 999 call which was key to the prosecution’s assertion ‘this was no ordinary traffic accident’.
After his death, Mr Hussain’s family later told detectives he had been having a three-year affair with the older woman, who was married with children.
Although starting off as ‘a bit of fun’ although with ‘quarrels’ for Mr Hussain the relationship ‘changed’ and he later told family ‘he was in love’ with Mrs Bukhari.
He spent up to £3,000 on taking Mrs Bukhari out, with the two having a ‘clear sexual relationship’.
Mr Thompson said: ‘A number of sexually-explicit videos and pictures were found, involving both Saqib Hussain and Ansreen Bukhari.
‘The existence of that material is at the very centre of this case because it was what that material could do that the Crown say led to … the murder of these two young men.’
By January 2022, Mrs Bukhari was trying to end the relationship, against Mr Hussain’s wishes.
He then became ‘increasingly obsessive about the relationship, professing his love for Ansreen and begging her to continue the relationship’, eventually ‘turning to blackmail’ to convince Mrs Bukhari to call him.
Mr Thompson said Mr Hussain threatened to send sexually explicit material to Mrs Bukhari’s husband.
‘What is implicit there, is her husband is going to be told about the affair, as is her son,’ added the prosecutor.
On January 4, last year Mahek Bukhari sent her mum a message which read: ‘I’ll get him jumped by guys and he won’t know what day it is.’
When Mr Hussain also tried to get Mahek Bukhari to get her mum to reply to him, the influencer replied: ‘She ain’t a dog, don’t f****** raise your voice and tell me what to do.’
Later, she allegedly told him: ‘I am sorry that this year you’ll be gone, Saqib.’
The mum and daughter, both from Stoke-on-Trent then decided they needed to ‘silence’ Mr Hussain.
On February 8, 2022, the Crown claimed Mahek Bukhari’s friend 29-year-old Rekan Karwan, of Tomlin Road, Leicester, was brought in, at first, helping in ‘negotiating with Saqib Hussain over money’.
He then allegedly brought in Natasha Akhtar, 22, Raees Jamal, 22, Rekan Karwan, 28, Mohammed Patel, 20, Sanaf Gulammustafa, 22, and Ammeer Jamal, 27.
All eight defendants are accused of murdering both men and also face two alternative manslaughter counts, but deny any wrong-doing.
A woman behind the catchphrase “Father Bernard” has finally been found, months after her video went viral.
The Ghanaian national who became famous on the internet for shouting “Ei Father Bernard” in a viral video has been seen in her home country. In the video, the woman jumps into a grave and lands on the coffin of a reverend father who had not yet been buried.
Many people found the video amusing, and some Ghanaians described the woman as innocent because she didn’t understand how much attention she had received online.
Recently, a TikToker who knew her personally approached her to ask why she shouted “Ei Father Bernard.” The woman, whose name is not yet known, looked shyly at the camera and seemed to find the question amusing.
The video was originally posted on TikTok by @kalybos_de_debaterjunior and was later shared on popular blogger Sammy Kay Media’s Instagram page on April 13th, 2023.
TikTok has gained immense popularity globally since its launch in 2016. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, many isolated individuals jumped onto the platform.
Even with many able to move to public spaces and return to their normal daily lives, the platform continues to be patronised.
As of January 2023, TikTok had over one billion monthly active users and this has been so due to the compelling content shared.
In this article, we take a look at the top 10 TikTokers with the most followers due to their engaging content. The figures provided are as of April 14, 2023.
Khaby Lame
Khaby, the biggest TikToker in the world, has a total of 156 million followers. He is quite unique and different from the others. The 23-year-old Senegalese-Italian creator rarely speaks in his TikTok videos.
His videos are filled with gestures of incidents that are poorly handled by people.
Bella in August 2020 found a massive demand after a single video of her lip-syncing to a British rap song went viral. She did this to amass 92.8 million followers.
Addison has 88.7 million followers. She started posting in 2019. She provides a mixture of contents comprising; dance videos, lip-syncs, trends, and comedy skits.
Known to be YouTube’s biggest star, Mr Beast has a following of 80.7 million.
Born Jimmy Donaldson, Mr Beast who has 136 million subscribers on YouTube has been entertaining his followers with challenges and stunts where does who participate get to earn some cash.
Kimberly is a Mexican singer. She made her debut on TikTok in 2020 where she shared dance routines, red carpet moments, and behind-the-scenes videos. She has 74.1 million followers.
The Turkish Chef has 70.4 million followers. Cznburak whose official name is Burak Özdemir thrills his fans with culinary concoctions include giant burgers, fiery baklava, and elaborate fruit shakes.
Early morning and gettin’ my ass kicked. 545am cardio. 45min stair master. Empty stomach. 125-135 average HR🏃🏾♂️💦 Everyone’s tired. We all gotta work 😊 🏗️
TikTok star, Asantewaa, has finally opened up on why she has stopped promoting Ghanaian musicians on her social media platforms.
Back in 2022, the influencer was one of the most used to promote music on the TikTok app because of her huge following and the impressions the videos she mostly posts get.
One song she is famous for in terms of promotion on TikTok is Lasmid’s hit song, ‘Friday Night’.
Despite all the clout she supposedly has with these types of music promotions, she told Nana Romeo on Accra FM that she no longer promotes music.
Asked why she has stopped, Asantewaa bluntly stated that it is because the musicians in Ghana do not have money.
She went on to add that her brand has grown to a point where she feels that various Ghanaian musicians who might want her services cannot afford her.
“…even if you bring us 10 billion, we won’t do it,” she stated.
Singer Archipalago has lashed out at TikTok star Hajia Bintu over her decision to advertise a product believed to charm men.
Hajia Bintu attracted the wrath of popular social media sensation and singer, Archipalago, over her decision to advertise the Kayamata product.
Testifying to the goodness of the so-called powerful Kayamata product, she explained that any woman who purchases them will automatically be gifted large sums of money by any man she comes into contact with, whether through sexual intercourse or just a handshake.
Palago, who has expressed his disappointment in the TikTok influencer, wondered about the motivation behind the advertisement. Together with others, he believes that the move was in bad taste.
“I am upset by that viral video. Hajia Bintu, you must be ashamed of yourself for advertising a product that women can use to charm men. These products help women to command and attract men,” he announced in a self-recorded video shared on Twitter.
The self-acclaimed youth president added that love potions used by women to attract men should not be endorsed by personalities with huge social media followings, considering the influence they have on young men and women in the country.
“What are you teaching these young ladies, are you really okay?…Hajia Bintu you are not in a position to advertise those drugs. You are not living by example and how do you expect us to have prominent future ladies in Ghana? You better behave,” he cautioned.
Meanwhile, Hajia Bintu has topped Twitter trends, with many questioning her wealth. Some concerned Ghanaians have encouraged authorities to ban such advertisements by celebrities.
Actress/TikToker, Martina Dwamena, popularly known in showbiz as Asantewaa has opened up about how she narrowly escaped divorce.
Asantewaa is blessed with a husband who respects her job as an actress and Tiktok influencer, the reason he pays no heed to cheap gossip and reports from critics who have attempted to paint a bad picture of his wife, the actress has said.
The popular influencer has narrated how important it is for public figures to build trust in their relationships. This she believes helps create a healthy relationship with no doubt.
In an April 2023 interview with Kwaku Manu on the ‘Aggressive Show’, Asantewaa noted that her husband has never talked her out of acting although some men are quick to interfere in their partner’s profession for fear of them cheating.
“Some partners prevent their wives from acting but my husband met me on a movie set. He had come to wash his car at a washing bay where we were shooting.
“I always say this, a man can leave at any time. Don’t abandon your passion. Find a better way to explain things to him. You can build some structures on what not to do. If he trusts you on whatever you do, that’s it,” she admonished.
Asantewaa added that there have been several attempts to collapse her marriage. She revealed that her husband constantly receives reports from people who accuse her of infidelity.
She narrated how her husband onetime came to a hotel to confirm whom she was with after a tip-off.
“If you win your husband’s heart, he will not pay heed to rumours and negative reports, screenshots, and videos gossips bring to him.
“One time, someone gave hint to my husband that I was in a hotel with my manager. The good thing is that I had already informed him that I was with my manager and when he came to see for himself, he found me where I said I was…all that matters is trust,” she disclosed.
According to the UK’s data authority, TikTok has been penalised £12.7 million for failing to protect the privacy of children.
According to the Information Commissioner’s Office’s (ICO) inquiry, the video-sharing software violated data protection laws.
The violations allegedly took place between May 2018 and July 2020.
The ICO provided TikTok with a “notice of intent” in September, which served as a warning before it could be penalized.
Despite its own policies prohibiting children under 13 from opening an account, the ICO estimates that TikTok allowed up to 1.4 million UK children under 13 to use the site in 2020.
UK data protection law says that platforms that use personal data when offering information to children under 13 must have parental consent.
Information commissioner John Edwards said: “There are laws in place to make sure our children are as safe in the digital world as they are in the physical world. TikTok did not abide by those laws.
“As a consequence, an estimated one million under 13s were inappropriately granted access to the platform, with TikTok collecting and using their personal data. That means that their data may have been used to track them and profile them, potentially delivering harmful, inappropriate content at their very next scroll.
“TikTok should have known better. TikTok should have done better. Our £12.7m fine reflects the serious impact their failures may have had.”
Concern over TikTok seems to be spreading in some circles.
Particularly when it comes to data security, governments in the West are starting to take action, but so far there hasn’t been much official commentary in Africa.
The captivating design of the app has swept the globe, and North America is no exception.
The endless scrolling, the quickfire nuggets of information, the algorithm that seems to know what you want to see better than you do, serve to draw the user in. Before long, seconds turn to minutes, which can then turn to hours.
A TikTok-induced headache might then follow, in which things are only understandable as long as they are presented in meme form.
But resisting this onslaught might be fruitless and we, on the continent, should be paying attention.
The 2022 Reuters Institute Digital News Report showed Africa to be a priority market for TikTok, with ever more young people using it to get the latest news.
The social media app, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is now offering support and a platform for creators across Africa who are beginning to find a voice that has been excluded elsewhere.
They are challenging the more mainstream narratives about the continent and presenting the world with a different view.
Image caption,Tanzanian Tiktokers Kili and Neema Paul have become well-known in India
However, concerns have been expressed in many parts of the globe over its security features.
TikTok has recently been in the firing line, not least from US lawmakers who grilled CEO Shou Zi Chew for over four hours in what was described as a “Congress showdown”.
The focus was over suspicions that user data gathered by the app could be accessed by the Chinese government.
Fears over TikTok are not exclusive to the US – several countries are now banning the use of the app together with other social media platforms on government employees’ phones because of insufficient data security measures.
Waihiga Mwaura
There is the feeling that while data security is an issue, TikTok should not be the sole focus of attention”
But there has been silence from African governments. No country on the continent has yet taken measures against TikTok.
Speaking to some experts here in Kenya, there is the feeling that while data security is an issue, TikTok should not be the sole focus of attention.
Kennedy Kachwanya, chair of the Bloggers Association of Kenya (Bake), reminds us of the accusations that UK-based Cambridge Analytica harvested user data in Kenya to help manipulate the outcome of elections in 2013 and 2017.
The company, which has now folded, said in 2018 that it was employed as a marketing agency and was simply using social media to help its client to win.
“The issue of Cambridge Analytica was highly discussed in the US and UK but what they did in Kenya for example, back in the 2013 election was barely mentioned,” Mr Kachwanya says.
“It is my feeling that Kenya and Nigeria were the testing grounds for them before the big use in the US and UK.”
For him allegations of what Cambridge Analytica could do indicated how user information could be used by third parties, either for commercial purposes, interference with the democratic process or to help with state surveillance.
There are also allegations that anti-TikTok headlines reflect the concerns that its rivals are losing market share.
James Wamathai, also from Bake, believes the targeting of Tiktok is fuelled by American hysteria and propaganda.
The digital strategist says that “US companies collect way more data” and argues that they are frustrated as they appear to be “unable to compete with TikTok”.
There is also another concern over the safety of users and the potential for them to be exposed to inappropriate material.
Gift Mirie, a manager at a Nairobi-based digital firm that handles social media influencers, closely followed the session with the TikTok CEO at the US Congress. He was surprised at how the 40-year-old was so forthcoming with information about the inner workings of the platform.
His greatest issue however was that guarantees that Shou Zi Chew made about the safety of American teenagers were not extended elsewhere.
“We’ve seen how African youth quickly jump on global trends – what is the consideration for their safety in this algorithm protection plan?” Mr Mirie asked.
Image caption,TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew told US lawmakers about protection for young Americans, but what about youth elsewhere?
This week also saw a Senegalese lobby group, known as Restic, appeal to the regulator there to help control what young people can see.
“Unfortunately, the content on TikTok is very violent and some features in this context are not allowed by our traditions here in Africa,” Resitc’s Moustapha Diakhate told the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme.
“We definitely want to see how we protect our kids who interact with this social media.”
All those I spoke to felt that data security and online safety should be a top consideration – regardless of where the parent company of the social media app in question is based.
They challenge African governments to demand the same guarantees from technology companies that their counterparts in the West are receiving.
Data that is freely offered up by users can be used for innocent marketing purposes. But in the wrong hands, whether that is an overbearing state or a foreign power, the information could be used for something more nefarious.
Bruising, damaging, and unrelenting. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chewwas grilled for four and a half hours on Thursday during a congressional hearing in the United States.
Some people can run marathons faster than that, according to one congressman.
Mr Chew will undoubtedly be exhausted after a gruelling day of testifying. Many tech executives have testified before Congress, and they are not always treated favourably.
The relentless, never-ending line of vicious questioning, however, distinguished this hearing.
Who is TikTok chief Shou Zi Chew? How a TikTok ban would – or wouldn’t – work in practice TikTok ban: What could it mean for creators? From both Democrats and Republicans, there was no let-up. A spokesperson for TikTok said afterwards the politicians were “grandstanding”. There is most certainly some truth to that. But between the sometimes frustratingly verbose questioning, we did learn a thing or two.
Legislators were united against TikTok There was criticism of TikTok from Republicans and Democrats, and the level of distrust and scepticism from all sides was stark.
“Welcome to the most bipartisan committee in Congress,” said Republican congressman Buddy Carter.
“Thank you, Mr Chew, for bringing Republicans and Democrats together,” said Dan Crenshaw, a Republican.
It was really quite something to see so many politicians – who agree on practically nothing – agreeing wholeheartedly that TikTok was a security threat.
TikTok complained afterwards that not enough time had been spent focusing on the platform’s measures to keep data safe.
“Also not mentioned today by members of the committee: the livelihoods of the five million businesses on TikTok or the [US Constitution] First Amendment implications of banning a platform loved by 150 million Americans,” a TikTok spokesperson said.
2. ByteDance engineers in China have access to some US data
Mr Chew kept talking about a “Project Texas”, a proposal which will see it store all data in the US under the watch of American firm Oracle.
However, Project Texas is not fully operational. As of now, Mr Chew confirmed that engineers at ByteDance – TikTok’s parent company – do have access to data.
“We rely on global interoperability, Chinese engineers have access to data,” he said.
It was an admission that politicians kept coming back to. Their point was that if data can be accessed by engineers in China, it’s hard to see how the Chinese government couldn’t also access it.
On Friday, China’s foreign ministry repeated its claim that it does not ask companies to provide data or intelligence located in other countries.
3. Chew has shares in ByteDance
Perhaps Mr Chew’s least successful defence was his attempt to distanceTikTok from ByteDance.
By any definition, the Chinese company owns TikTok. Mr Chew himself used to be ByteDance’s chief financial officer.
When initially asked, Mr Chew didn’t want to say whether he owned shares in ByteDance. Pressed by lawmakers, he eventually said he did, but tried to downplay the connection.
China’s government says it would oppose any US plan to force ByteDance to sell TikTok – something authorities are reportedly considering.
4. Chew’s children do not use TikTok
At one point in the hearing, Mr Chew was asked by congresswoman Nanette Barragán, a Democrat, whether or not his own children used TikTok.
He said they didn’t because they live in Singapore. In that country the version of the app for children younger than 13 is not available.
5. What about Cambridge Analytica?
Mr Chew generally pulled his punches. He didn’t often take the fight back to members of Congress. But there were rare moments where he did push back – and effectively.
When quizzed on TikTok’s use of user data, he said: “With all due respect, American companies don’t have a great track record with data … Just look at Facebook and Cambridge Analytica.”
It was a barbed comment, but a reasonable point to make.
Harvesting of Facebook users’ personal information by Cambridge Analytica, a British political consultancy, and other third-party apps caused uproar when it emerged in 2018.
A hostile House of Representatives committee heard testimony fromTikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew as legislators debated outlawing the well-known video-sharing app.
The executive was interrogated by lawmakers from both parties on the House Energy and Commerce Committee on privacy concerns, worries about national security, the company’s ties to China, and the harm the app has done to children and teenagers in the US.
According to committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, “Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security.” “TikTok has consistently gone down the route of increased control, increased monitoring, and increased manipulation.”
In his response, Chew tried to assure officials and the American public that the app, which is owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, is fixing security flaws that allowed international actors to access the data of American users.
TikTok CEO makes his opening statement before Congress
‘We will firewall protect the US data from unwanted foreign access,’ Chew assured the committee.
He also emphasized the company’s ongoing Project Texas, a $1.5billion project with software giant Oracle which aims to move all US user data to facilities within the country.
‘American data is stored on American soil by an American company overseen by American personnel,’ Chew repeated multiple times over the course of the tense hearing.
Since October, all new data collected on American users has been stored in these US servers. However, the CEO did admit that some legacy data was still stored in facilities that could be accessed by ByteDance engineers.
Chew, the former CFO of ByteDance, also tried to downplay TikTok’s connection to the China, and denied connections to the country’s government and ruling Chinese Communist Party.
‘Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,’ Chew said. ‘ByteDance has five board members, and three of them are American.’
Other representatives focused on the content the app has featured. Rep Gus Bilirakis of Florida criticized the algorithm the app uses for its ‘For You’ page, which he says contributed to the death of a 16-year-old who was served up content encouraging him to take his own life.
Chew repeatedly touted the company’s more recent efforts to moderate content being delivered to children, including a new restriction against viewing more than 60 minutes of content for users under age 16.
Congress plays TikTok of targeted gun threat to TikTok CEO during hearing
Another congresswoman, Rep Kat Cammack of Florida, played a video showing violent threats to the days proceedings.
The video showed a rendering of a handgun firing a full clip of ammunition with the caption: ‘me asf at the House Energy and Commerce Committtee on 03/23/2023.’ It also tagged the name of Rep McMorris Rodgers, the chair of the committee.
According to Cammack, the video had been viewable for the next 41 days leading up to the hearing.
‘Your own community guidelines state: “we do not allow people to use our platform to threaten or incite violence,”‘ Cammack said. ‘You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data security of 150million Americans, when you can’t even protect the people in this room?’
Chew was not given a chance to respond to the video.
The Chinese-ownedsocial media app TikTok will be blocked from devices and networks in the latest ban imposed on it.
The House of Commons and House of Lords commissions have announced that they will follow the government’s lead on official devices, citing the importance of cyber security.
TikTok, according to a parliament spokesman, “will be blocked from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network.”
“Cyber security is a top priority for parliament, however we do not comment on specific details of our cyber or physical security controls, policies or incidents.” they said.
A similar decision has also been taken in Scotland, with TikTok banned from government phones and other devices.
It comes as the TikTok chief faces questions on security at the US Congress.
Despite Teleperformance’s promise to leave the business after shareholder outrage last year, employees are still analyzing TikTok’s most upsetting content, including child sexual assault.
According to those acquainted with the situation who requested to remain anonymous because they were revealing private information, the Paris-based contractor has approximately 500 individuals working for TikTok in Tunisia. Some of them spend their days searching at detrimental films posted to the social network. According to them, they include pictures of violence, gore, and sexual assault of children and animals.
Teleperformance said it would exit the “highly egregious part of the trust and safety business” in November, weeks after a report alleged Colombian employees moderating TikTok content were subject to occupational trauma from looking at harmful content. This led to a Colombian probe into labor practices and the biggest drop in share price in more than three decades.
The revelations highlight the challenges that social media companies and their content review teams face in protecting their users from extremely disturbing material. While AI tools can screen some of the content, they aren’t good enough to replace human judgment entirely. This means companies like TikTok, Meta Platforms Inc. and Alphabet Inc. still rely on teams of people, often low-paid contractors, to review and remove posts. Repeated exposure to extreme material has been linked to emotional and psychological distress.
At the time, Chief Executive Officer Daniel Julien said Teleperformance would continue to offer content moderation services, but its workers wouldn’t review the most extreme posts, such as child-abuse images. It would work with its clients to find “suitable alternatives for its current business in the field,” the company said in a statement. The announcement was praised by analysts who had grown concerned about possible ESG risks.
Teleperformance Chief Financial Officer Olivier Rigaudy said in an interview that the company’s position hadn’t changed since November and that it was honoring existing contractual commitments with clients. He declined to comment on when individual contracts end, but said they typically last two to three years.
Rigaudy said that the company was also working to define what “highly egregious” content means, depending on different cultures, laws and customers. The process is “extremely complicated” because it involves 40 clients, each with 30 or 40 contracts, he said.
TikTok did not respond to requests for comment.
Workers in Tunis are moderating content posted by users in the Middle-East and North Africa, through a contract that started around last summer, the people said. Tunisia has recently become a hub for TikTok moderation in the region, with the work split between Teleperformance and another subcontractor, Concentrix Corp. A representative for Concentrix declined to comment.
A portion of the Tunis-based TikTok moderators review queues of videos in a restricted-access room. One of the queues can include highly egregious content, one of the people said. Videos are filtered into the different queues by an AI system, the person added, so that more highly trained staff review the most offensive material.
Employees can talk to on-site therapists, whose presence is a requirement from TikTok, the people said. They work in 9-hour shifts and earn around 900 to 1200 dinars ($290 to $385) a month, depending on experience and bonuses for working at night, the people said.
The job includes planned breaks and is favored by some employees over talking to customers in Teleperformance’s more traditional call center business, one of the people said.
Five young Iranian women who were dancing to the song “Calm Down” by Nigerian Afrobeat artist and rapper Divine Ikubor, also known as Rema, are purportedly in custody.
Due to their lack of head scarves while dancing to Rema’s hit song, the five ladies’ video went viral on Tuesday.
The Times of Israel reported that there are anxieties about their well-being for filming themselves dancing as they were arrested and forced into confessing by Iran’s authorities.
The footage showed the women dancing and slightly showing their stomachs, near highrise buildings in the Tehran residential district of Ekbatan to the song.
It spread widely on TikTok and other social media channels last week around International Women’s Day on March 8.
Activists, apparently from the Ekbatan area, first posted the video on Telegram and Twitter. They said authorities had been asking residents in the area if they knew the women, based on the footage, The Times of Israel said.
On Tuesday, the activists alleged the women had been detained and forced into making a video in which they expressed regret.
In the Islamic Republic, it is illegal for women to dance in public as well as to not wear the Islamic headscarf.
Abolition of the obligatory headscarf rule has been one of the chief demands of the civil unrest that erupted in September after the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the dress code.
This video of Iranian girls in Tehran’s Ekbatan neighbourhood dancing unveiled to the song Calm Down by Rema and Selena Gomez has gone viral.
After the initial viral footage of the five, another video emerged on social media of four women, their heads fully covered, stepping forward one by one to express regret.
It appeared to have been filmed in a similar Ekbatan area, but neither the video nor the circumstances in which it was made could be verified.
Whether the women had been released was also not immediately clear.
Ekbatan, a middle-income area popular with young professionals and families, saw repeated anti-regime actions in the past few months.
Rema retweeted the video of the women dancing with their long hair uncovered and commented: “To all the beautiful women who are fighting for a better world, I’m inspired by you, I sing for you and I dream with you.”
The song “Calm Down” became a global hit after Rema issued a remix with superstar Selena Gomez.
The leaders of Canada’s two main opposition parties, who have usedTikTok more actively than the ruling Liberals to win over supporters, stand to suffer the consequences of the country’s ban on Chinese-owned TikTok on devices provided by the government.
The leaders of the two biggest opposition parties – Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre and New Democratic partyleader Jagmeet Singh – are among politicians who actively used TikTok to reach constituents.
But that strategy may be in jeopardy after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government on Monday announced a ban on TikTok on government-issued devices due to security risks, amid fears that user data could end up in Chinese government hands.
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That prompted lawmakers from both the ruling Liberals and opposition Conservatives to go even further by suspending their accounts on TikTok. Liberal lawmakers were also told to remove the app from personal devices and suspend all related accounts, the party said.
The NDP’s Singh, whose party has an agreement that is expected to keep Trudeau’s minority government in power until 2025, also similarly deactivated his account on Tuesday.
Singh, who made TikTok videos of dance moves in his signature neon turbans in the 2021 election, has used TikTok to post videos of his political plans and his family, helping him accumulate more than 800,000 followers.
By contrast, the ruling Liberal Party had a more modest presence on TikTok – Trudeau, for example, did not have a public account on the app.
“Any limitation on social media is a problem for any opposition politician,” Nik Nanos of Nanos Research told Reuters, saying they do not have the incumbent advantage of being featured regularly on more traditional media outlets.
Singh’s office said it takes “all security concerns seriously and we will comply with any directives issued about banning TikTok from government devices to ensure that information is protected.”
Singh also told reporters that taking a pause to assess how to safely use the social media platform is “something that I feel very comfortable doing and I have no hesitation to do.”
AN OPPOSITION PROBLEM
There is no doubting the reach and appeal of apps like TikTok to target voters: Insider Intelligence projects 9 million Canadians will use the app this year and over 10 million will do so by 2025 – more than a quarter of Canada’s population.
But TikTok – owned by Chinese firm ByteDance – is facing a growing backlash from Western governments worried about whether China’s government could harvest user data or advance its interests. Beijing has repeatedly denied any such intentions.
The European Parliament became the latest EU body to ban the app from staff phones this week and on Wednesday a U.S. House panel approved a bill giving President Biden the power to ban the app altogether.
TikTok has also complained about the Canadian ban, saying it was issued “without citing any specific security concern or contacting us.”
Analysts like Nanos say anything that limits or undermines the role of social media as a platform could be a problem for politicians like the Conservatives’ Poilievre, who has shunned mainstream media in Ottawa.
Poilievre’s account, deactivated this week alongside that of his entire caucus, garnered around 200,000 followers.
Poilievre – who has styled himself as an anti-establishment figure – has relied on a strategy of directly reaching voters through social media platforms such as TikTok, where he frequently attacks opponents and makes parody videos.
“It’s always much more difficult for opposition politicians to insert themselves into the dialogue,” Nanos said.
Teenagers will also receive a weekly notification that includes a summary of their previous week’s screen time.
For users under the age of 18, TikTok has announced that it will soon automatically cap daily screen time at 60 minutes.
The new limitations are a part of a suite of standard features that the Chinese-owned social media behemoth is introducing to enhance the wellness of the app’s youthful users.
‘Every account belonging to someone below age 18 will automatically be set to a 60-minute daily screen time limit,’ said TikTok.
‘If teens decide to turn off this new default limit, and spend more than 100 minutes on TikTok in a day, we’ll prompt them to set a daily screen time limit for themselves,’
TikTok said that in first month of testing, this approach increased the use of its screen time management tools by 234%.
Teens will also get a weekly notification with a recap of their screen time for that week.
Since managing screen time on TikTok is a problem for most people, everyone will soon be able to set up customised screen time limits for each day of the week and a schedule to mute notifications.
TikTok has also updated its ‘Family Pairing’ feature introduced in 2020, giving parents the ability to set a custom daily screen time limit for their teens.
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A screen time dashboard will provide caregivers with summaries of time spent on the app, the number of times TikTok was opened, and a breakdown of the total time spent during the day and night.
Parents can also set a custom schedule to mute their kids’ TikTok notifications.
The White House has given government organizations 30 days to prohibit the use of TikTok on federal systems and devices. (Reuters, image)
The TikTok app has been forbidden on federal devices by government agencies by a date imposed by the White House.
The Chinese-owned software must not be installed or functioning on any federal networks for the next 30 days, the White House announced on Monday.
In a guidance memorandum, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young informed federal agencies that they must purge TikTok from devices including phones to keep government data safe and stop internet traffic from getting to the company.
Congress ordered the ban in December, after more than half of US states, the European Union, Canada and Taiwan acted to ban TikTok. Lawmakers gave the Biden administration 60 days to issue directives to agencies.
Office of Management and Budget director informed government agencies of the deadline to purge TikTok in a guidance memorandum (Picture: AP)
Federal Chief Information Security Officer Chris DeRusha stated that ‘this guidance is part of the Administration’s ongoing commitment to securing our digital infrastructure and protecting the American people’s security and privacy’.
The ban came amid fears that China could be using companies within its boundaries to spy on Americans.
ByteDance, which owns TikTok, has denied that the app is used to spy on Americans and blamed the allegations on misinformation.
Before the congressional vote, government agencies including the White House, State Department, Department of Defense and the department of Homeland Security had already banned TikTok from government systems.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee is slated to vote on a bill on Tuesday that would give President Joe Biden the authority to ban TikTok from all American devices.
Committee chair Rep Mike McCaul stated: ‘My bill empowers the administration to ban TikTok or any software applications that threaten US national security.
‘Anyone with TikTok downloaded on their device has given the (Chinese Communist Party) a backdoor to all their personal information.
Employees were informed that if they did not remove the Chinese-owned social media website by March 15, they would lose access to their email accounts and video conferencing systems.
“To protect the Commission’s data and increase its cybersecurity, the EC [European Commission] Corporate Management Board has decided to suspend the TikTok application on corporate devices and personal devices enrolled in the Commission mobile device services,” bosses told staff in an email message.
TikTok is allegedly intended to collect more personal data than any other social media app or messaging service, according to experts.
This has sparked fears within Western governments that TikTok poses a potential security risk because of concerns over its Chinese parent company’s close relationship with Beijing.
The EU ban will also apply to its staffs’ personal phones if they have work-related applications installed on them.
It follows a decision by the US Congress to restrict TikTok usage on federal government devices.
The Dutch intelligence agency has also launched a probe into the risks posed by government workers with the app installed on their mobile phones.
Time for UK Government ban?
But as it stands, no European government has followed the US lead in officially banning the app.
At the time, Forbes reported the application was being used to spy on journalists covering its parent company ByteDance.
On Thursday, TikTok said that a decision by the European Commission to ban the video-sharing app on its staff’s official devices was based on mistaken ideas about its platform.
“We are disappointed with this decision, which we believe to be misguided and based on fundamental misconceptions,” a spokesperson for the Chinese-owned company said, after the Commission cited data protection concerns.
