In a Senate proceeding on Thursday, July 4, Senator Karungo Thang’wa advised President William Ruto to switch from using X Spaces to going live on TikTok when engaging with Generation Z. Senator Thang’wa highlighted that on X Spaces, President Ruto would only hear voices, making it difficult to verify the identities of those claiming to be Gen Zs. In contrast, TikTok Live would enable the President to see faces and confirm he is interacting with genuine young people.
Senator Thang’wa explained, “When the President is talking to Gen Z, he must make sure he is talking to Gen Z. That is why I advise him to shy away from the X Space.” He emphasized that real Gen Zs are not afraid to be seen, referencing their bold turnout in broad daylight to reject the contentious Finance Bill 2024.
Thang’wa also pointed out that imposters among Gen Zs would be easily identified on TikTok Live, as it allows visual confirmation of the participants’ ages. “I’d like to advise the President and the Vice President to go to TikTok and learn how to say ‘Tap Tap the screen.’ I want us to speak to each other,” he added.
Furthermore, Thang’wa cautioned President Ruto to prepare for potential insults on X Spaces, noting that the platform’s speakers are often faceless and may engage in rude behavior. “If you go to the X Spaces, huko matusi ni mingi (people insult each other a lot there),” he warned.
This recommendation from Senator Thang’wa comes at a time when President Ruto announced on his social media platforms that he would engage with Gen Zs for three hours on Friday, July 5. The interactive session is scheduled to take place from 2 PM to 5 PM.
