TikTok Enhances Safety Efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa with New Advisory Council and #SaferTogether Campaign

The newly established Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council is a part of TikTok’s global network of advisory councils, designed to provide expert insights on a range of safety issues.

TikTok has announced significant strides in enhancing safety across its platform in Sub-Saharan Africa with the launch of its first Safety Advisory Council for the region and the expansion of its #SaferTogether community education campaign. This initiative was unveiled during TikTok's Safety Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, marking a pivotal step in the platform's ongoing commitment to ensuring a secure and positive environment for its users.

A Collaborative Approach to Safety

The newly established Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council is a part of TikTok’s global network of advisory councils, designed to provide expert insights on a range of safety issues. Since 2020, TikTok has launched nine regional Safety Advisory Councils along with the U.S. Content Advisory Council. These councils are composed of experts in youth safety, free expression, hate speech, and other critical areas, who contribute to shaping TikTok’s policies and product features to address emerging challenges.

The Sub-Saharan Africa council includes distinguished members 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 and Coordinator of AfricTivistes, Senegal)

Lillian Kariuki (Founder and Executive Director, Watoto Watch Network, Kenya)

Dr. Akinola Olojo (Expert on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, Nigeria)

Prof Medhane Tadesse (Policy Academic on Peace and Security Issues, Ethiopia)

Berhan Taye (Independent Researcher, Ethiopia)

Valiant Richey, TikTok’s Global Head of Outreach and Partnerships, Trust and Safety, 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."

#SaferTogether: Engaging Communities in Safety

The expansion of TikTok’s #SaferTogether campaign underscores the platform’s dedication to community engagement in promoting online safety. This iteration of the campaign will include workshops, social media outreach, and partnerships with key stakeholders to educate users on TikTok’s Community Guidelines and safety features. The goal is to create a collective effort toward maintaining a secure and positive space for creative expression.

Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, Director of Government Relations & Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized the campaign's significance: “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, encouraging them to join us in making TikTok a safer space for all.”

Strengthening Digital Literacy Across Africa

TikTok’s safety initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa have already made substantial impacts, particularly in Kenya, where the #SaferTogether workshops have reached over 64,000 students, 467 parents, and 346 teachers across 26 counties. These workshops are designed to encourage best practices on online platforms and foster digital literacy among young people.

Additionally, TikTok’s partnership with the African Union Commission's Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate aims to deliver digital literacy programs across Africa, helping young people and their caregivers navigate the digital world safely.

Safaricom, a long-standing strategic partner of TikTok, has expressed strong support for these safety efforts. Fawzia Ali, Chief Consumer Business Officer at Safaricom PLC, stated, "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."

More information about the work of the Safety Advisory Councils can be found on TikTok’s Transparency Centre. This ongoing commitment to safety ensures that TikTok remains a platform where creativity can thrive in a secure and supportive environment.