Making social media usage taxable a solution to decrease addiction?

New Delhi : In a latest move, Uganda has started putting tax on people who wish to use social media platforms like Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter and more.

The Uganda government has passed a law that imposes tax on people for using social media platforms in the country.

As per the new Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, to be in effect from July 1, a fine of 200 shilling (Rs 132) daily would be imposed on people using internet messaging platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber and Twitter. 

The move has been taken with a motive to decrease social media addiction and increase revenue.

The country’s President Yoweri Museveni who had pushed for the changes in the social media law back in March argued that social media encourages gossip. In a letter to Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, Museveni insisted that the revenue collected by the social media tax would help the country “cope with consequences of olugambo (gossiping)”.

The revenue raised is also intended to help pay off of the country’s growing national debt, the report said.

Well, the interesting tax has come in Uganda. What do you think of the new law? Can it be a solution for the world too? Do share your views in the comment box below.