TikTok Partners with African Governments to Improve Online Safety
Cape Town – TikTok (www.TikTok.com) recently held its second Annual Africa Safer Internet Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, uniting government officials, regulators, and industry pioneers from across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Delegates represented South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, and several other nations to engage in discussions on vital topics related to online safety, content moderation, and digital policy advancement.
The Summit emphasizes TikTok’s commitment to enhancing user safety in Africa while promoting open discussions with policymakers to develop strong frameworks that safeguard users’ rights and stimulate innovation and creativity in the digital realm.
Digital Safety Discussions Among Government and Industry Leaders
The event was officially inaugurated by Hon. Solly Malatsi, South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, who stressed the significance of collaboration between governments, tech platforms, and communities in nurturing a safer digital ecosystem.
Helena Lersch, Vice President for Public Policy at TikTok, reiterated the platform’s dedication to user safety and the importance of partnerships in establishing a secure digital space.
“Billions of individuals visit TikTok daily to create, share, and connect, and we are constantly enhancing our policies and practices to secure our platform so our community can explore and pursue their passions,” said Lersch.
“This summit highlights the crucial collaboration between industry leaders and regulators in crafting a digital environment that is both innovative and secure.”
https://apo-opa.co/3QMZNQH) reflect the platform’s ongoing investment in automated moderation technologies along with human safety experts, facilitating the identification and removal of harmful content before it reaches users.
Globally, from July to September 2024, TikTok removed over 147 million videos, with 118 million being identified and deleted automatically using these technologies.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, TikTok removed more than 7.5 million videos in Q3 2024, increasing to over 8 million in Q4 2024 – a quarter-on-quarter rise of 14.06%.
Remarkably, 99.5% of these videos were taken down before any user reports, highlighting TikTok’s commitment to proactive moderation and prompt action.
A similar trend was noted in North Africa, where TikTok removed over 7 million videos in both Q3 and Q4 of 2024, representing an 8.70% increase in removals between the quarters, with 99.3% also removed before any user reports.
These statistics emphasize TikTok’s continuous endeavor to create a safe and positive online environment through effective, technology-driven content moderation systems.
#SaferTogether – Enhancing Safe Digital Engagement
In line with its overarching commitment to digital safety and education, TikTok is amplifying its initiatives across Africa through strategic partnerships and training programs aimed at promoting digital literacy, safety awareness, and responsible content creation.
Central to these initiatives is TikTok’s flagship #SaferTogether campaign, which has achieved significant milestones since its inception in 2022.
In Kenya, the program, conducted in collaboration with Eveminet (https://apo-opa.co/3Y8mHG7), a youth online protection organization, has successfully engaged over 406,000 participants via in-person workshops throughout the country.
These sessions have equipped communities with the necessary knowledge and tools for responsible online behavior, particularly among students, educators, and parents.
By collaborating closely with civil society organizations, educators, and government bodies, TikTok continues to embed proactive safety measures into its platform governance, crafting safer digital spaces for young users.
In Nigeria, TikTok launched Phase 2 of the #SaferTogether campaign in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) (https://apo-opa.co/3FFyx4d) and Data Science Nigeria (DSN) (https://apo-opa.co/3QNqzbJ).
This phase builds on the accomplishments of Phase 1, which educated parents in major cities like Abuja, Lagos, and Kano about TikTok’s safety features and mental well-being tools, aiming to extend safety awareness to additional states and enhance education among parents, teachers, and guardians.
Since September 2024, TikTok has also partnered with local creators throughout Sub-Saharan Africa to promote awareness of its safety features and Community Guidelines.
In Egypt, TikTok signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Journalists Syndicate to enhance digital awareness, media literacy, and address misinformation and online privacy concerns.
This partnership led to a one-day workshop that equipped journalists and media professionals with the skills needed to navigate digital technologies both safely and effectively.
This collaboration reflects TikTok’s unwavering commitment to empowering media professionals and fostering a more informed and digitally literate society.
Advancing Digital Safety in Africa – Global Youth Council
TikTok is also making a noteworthy advance in amplifying youth voices by expanding its Global Youth Council (https://apo-opa.co/4j2OWxZ) for 2025, further enhancing African representation.
Initially launched in 2023 to empower young users and influence platform policies, the Global Youth Council has almost doubled in size, now comprising 28 members from 15 countries.
New representatives from Nigeria, Cameroon, Canada, Qatar, and Australia will join returning members from Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, the UK, and the US for another term.
The Youth Council plays a significant role in shaping TikTok’s policies on safety, well-being, and inclusivity, ensuring that young users are heard as the platform continues to evolve.
The Safer Internet Summit serves as a crucial platform for sharing best practices among industry leaders and policymakers. By nurturing collaboration,
TikTok aims to maintain digital spaces that are safe, inclusive, and conducive to creativity while balancing the necessity for effective governance and innovation.
“We appreciate forums such as TikTok’s Safer Internet Summit, which convene policymakers for a shared mission: protecting internet users,” remarked Emmanuel Edet – Acting Director, Regulation and Compliance at NITDA.
“We are extremely proud to be partners in TikTok’s #SaferTogether campaign.
“This partnership not only underscores our mutual commitment to creating a safer online environment but also opens new pathways for innovation and collaboration, enabling us to scale our efforts effectively to foster a safer internet for everyone.”
For more details about TikTok’s safety policies and initiatives, visit our Safety Centre (https://apo-opa.co/4iYko0q), Guardian’s Guide (https://apo-opa.co/3QPAKfS), and Youth Safety Center (https://apo-opa.co/4j9JWrB).