In a significant move to enhance safety on its platform, TikTok has launched the Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council. This initiative, announced at the TikTok Safety Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, aims to address regional safety concerns by collaborating with local experts. The council is part of TikTok’s broader effort to ensure a secure and positive environment for its users.
Expert voices join TikTok’s safety efforts
The newly established council brings together a diverse group of professionals from various fields, including academia, content creation, and policy development. Among the members are Prof Guy Berger from Rhodes University, Dennis Coffie, a content creator from Ghana, and Lillian Kariuki, the founder of Watoto Watch Network in Kenya. This diverse expertise will help TikTok craft policies that are not only regionally relevant but also forward-looking.
Read: Cybersecurity: The rising tide of data breaches in South Africa
Valiant Richey, Global Head of Outreach and Partnerships for Trust and Safety at TikTok, expressed the importance of including African voices in the platform’s safety initiatives. “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,” said Richey.
#SaferTogether campaign targets community engagement
In addition to the council, TikTok is expanding its #SaferTogether community education campaign across Sub-Saharan Africa. The campaign, which has already seen success in Kenya and Nigeria, focuses on educating users about the platform’s community guidelines and safety features. Through workshops, social media outreach, and partnerships with stakeholders, the campaign aims to foster a culture of safety among TikTok users.
Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, Director of Government Relations & Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized the shared responsibility of safety within the TikTok community. “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,” Mgwili-Sibanda said.
The combined efforts of the Safety Advisory Council and the #SaferTogether campaign underline TikTok’s commitment to maintaining a secure platform in a rapidly growing digital landscape.
