TikTok is ramping up its commitment to online safety in Sub-Saharan Africa with the launch of its first-ever Safety Advisory Council and the expansion of its #SaferTogether community education campaign. The announcement, made during TikTok’s Safety Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, underscores the platform’s dedication to creating a secure and positive environment for its users by collaborating with policymakers, academics, NGOs, and community leaders.
Introducing the Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council
Since 2020, TikTok has established several regional Safety Advisory Councils, including the latest addition in Sub-Saharan Africa. These councils play a crucial role in shaping TikTok’s policies and safety measures, addressing issues such as youth safety, free expression, and hate speech. The new council will bring together local experts to help TikTok anticipate and manage regional safety concerns, reinforcing its commitment to protecting users across the continent.
The Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council includes prominent figures such as:
- Prof. Guy Berger, Rhodes University (South Africa)
- Dennis Coffie, Content creator (Ghana)
- Peter Cunliffe-Jones, University of Westminster (UK)
- Aisha Dabo, Co-Founder of AfricTivistes (Senegal)
- Lillian Kariuki, Founder of Watoto Watch Network (Kenya)
- Dr. Akinola Olojo, Expert in countering violent extremism (Nigeria)
- Prof. Medhane Tadesse, Policy academic on peace and security (Ethiopia)
- Berhan Taye, Independent Researcher (Ethiopia)
Valiant Richey, TikTok’s Global Head of Outreach and Partnerships, highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, “With the launch of the Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council, we are demonstrating our commitment to including expert African voices in our Trust and Safety work. This group of leaders was chosen for their broad range of expertise and experience, and we look forward to working with them over the coming years.”
#SaferTogether: Empowering the Community
TikTok’s #SaferTogether campaign is expanding to further engage the community in promoting safety on the platform. Through workshops, social media outreach, and partnerships with key stakeholders, the campaign aims to educate users on TikTok’s community guidelines and safety features. This initiative underscores the shared responsibility of creating a safe online space for all.
Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, TikTok’s Director of Government Relations & Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized, “The community empowerment campaign highlights the importance of safety being a shared responsibility. This part of the campaign will speak directly to the TikTok community, to join us in making TikTok a safer space for all by ensuring they follow the Community Guidelines and use the safety features available to them.”
TikTok’s Ongoing Impact in Kenya
TikTok’s #SaferTogether workshops have already made significant strides in Kenya, reaching students, parents, and teachers across 26 counties. These workshops, aimed at encouraging best practices online, have benefitted over 64,000 students, 467 parents, and 346 teachers. The campaign is part of a broader effort that has seen TikTok collaborate with the African Union Commission and Safaricom to promote digital literacy and safe internet usage across the continent.
Fawzia Ali, Chief Consumer Business Officer at Safaricom PLC, praised TikTok’s initiatives, stating, “At Safaricom, we see the internet as a resource that everyone should have access to, safely. Having witnessed the announcement of the TikTok Safety Advisory Council and the launch of the #SaferTogether campaign, we commend TikTok’s efforts in bringing together various stakeholders for a common goal – ensuring online safety and promoting the safe use of its platform across Africa.”
With these initiatives, TikTok continues to lead the charge in creating a safer digital environment in Sub-Saharan Africa, reinforcing its commitment to responsible and inclusive online community engagement.
