TikTok has launched its first-ever Safety Advisory Council for the Sub-Saharan region, along with an expanded #SaferTogether community education campaign. The announcement was made during TikTok’s Safety Summit, held in Nairobi, where key stakeholders, including policymakers, academics, NGOs, and community leaders, gathered to discuss the future of online safety.
A Collaborative Approach: The Safety Advisory Council
Since 2020, TikTok has established regional Safety Advisory Councils worldwide, including in the U.S., to guide its safety policies and practices. These councils are composed of experts in areas such as youth safety, free expression, and combating hate speech. The newly formed Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council marks TikTok’s latest effort to adapt its platform to the unique challenges of the region.
The council brings together a diverse group of local experts, including Prof. Guy Berger from Rhodes University in South Africa, content creator Dennis Coffie from Ghana, and Aisha Dabo, co-founder of AfricTivistes in Senegal, among others. Their collective insights will help TikTok anticipate and address safety concerns specific to Sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring the platform remains a secure space for users.
Valiant Richey, TikTok’s Global Head of Outreach and Partnerships, Trust and Safety, highlighted the significance of the council’s formation: “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.”
Empowering Communities: The #SaferTogether Campaign
In conjunction with the council’s launch, TikTok is also expanding its #SaferTogether campaign, which emphasizes community-driven safety. The campaign engages users directly through workshops, social media outreach, and collaborations with key stakeholders to promote understanding of TikTok’s community guidelines and safety features.
Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, Director of Government Relations & Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, underscored the importance of collective responsibility in maintaining a safe online environment: “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.”
Building on Success: TikTok’s Impact in Sub-Saharan Africa
TikTok’s safety initiatives are already making a significant impact in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Kenya, the #SaferTogether workshops have reached over 64,000 students, 467 parents, and 346 teachers, covering 26 out of the country’s 47 counties. These workshops focus on encouraging best practices for online platforms, particularly among youth aged 13 to 24.
Earlier this year, TikTok solidified its commitment to digital literacy in Africa by partnering with the African Union Commission’s Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate. This collaboration aims to deliver digital literacy programs across the continent, empowering young people and their caregivers to safely navigate digital platforms.
Support from Safaricom
As a long-standing partner of TikTok, Safaricom has played a key role in supporting the platform’s initiatives in Africa. Fawzia Ali, Chief Consumer Business Officer at Safaricom PLC, expressed strong support for TikTok’s latest efforts: “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.”
As TikTok continues to grow in popularity across Sub-Saharan Africa, these new initiatives represent a crucial step in ensuring that the platform remains a safe and positive environment for all users. With the combined efforts of the Safety Advisory Council and the #SaferTogether campaign, TikTok is not only addressing current safety challenges but also laying the groundwork for a safer digital future.