TikTok Doubles Down on Digital Safety at Africa Internet Safety Summit
Opening the summit, Hon. Solly Malatsi, South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in creating a secure digital ecosystem.
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- South Africa
TikTok, the leading global short-form video platform, hosted its second Annual Africa Safer Internet Summit, gathering a wide range of stakeholders—from government officials and tech regulators to civil society leaders and digital policy experts—under one roof to champion a safer digital future across the African continent.
Held in the vibrant city of Cape Town, the summit drew participants from across Sub-Saharan Africa, including delegations from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Côte d'Ivoire. The event marked a significant milestone in TikTok’s commitment to digital safety, especially for young and vulnerable users, and focused on fostering dialogue between policymakers and the tech industry to craft sustainable online safety frameworks.
Collaboration at the Heart of Digital Safety
Opening the summit, Hon. Solly Malatsi, South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in creating a secure digital ecosystem.
“We need continued cooperation between governments, tech companies, and civil society to ensure that the digital world remains a safe and enabling space for all users, particularly the youth,” said Malatsi.
Echoing this, Helena Lersch, TikTok’s Vice President for Public Policy, reaffirmed the platform’s proactive approach to safety:
“Billions engage with TikTok every day. Our goal is to ensure they can do so safely. The summit reflects the power of collaboration in designing inclusive and secure digital experiences.”
Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, TikTok’s Director of Public Policy & Government Relations for Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighted the summit's role in facilitating dialogue and knowledge-sharing.
“We’re proud to bring together key players to exchange best practices and strengthen digital safety across the continent.”
Content Moderation Sees Major Growth Across Africa
TikTok unveiled new data demonstrating its scaling commitment to content moderation in Africa. Between Q2 2023 and Q4 2024, TikTok recorded a 249.81% increase in content removals in Sub-Saharan Africa. This dramatic rise underscores the platform’s investment in technology-led moderation systems and a growing team of human safety experts focused on the region.
In Q3 2024, over 7.5 million videos were removed from the platform across Sub-Saharan Africa. This number climbed to more than 8 million in Q4 2024, showing a 14.06% quarter-on-quarter growth. Impressively, 99.5% of these removals occurred before users reported them, showcasing TikTok’s enhanced ability to proactively intercept harmful content.
Similar improvements were noted in North Africa, where TikTok removed over 7 million videos in both Q3 and Q4 of 2024. Here too, over 99.3% of takedowns occurred preemptively using AI and automated detection tools.
Globally, TikTok removed over 147 million videos between July and September 2024, with 80%+ detected automatically, affirming the effectiveness of its moderation infrastructure.
Empowering Communities Through #SaferTogether Campaign
TikTok’s #SaferTogether campaign continues to expand its footprint across Africa. Launched in 2022, the initiative promotes digital literacy, responsible content creation, and online safety awareness. In partnership with local NGOs, educational institutions, and government bodies, the campaign has achieved remarkable outreach milestones.
In Kenya, the platform joined forces with Eveminet, a youth online protection organisation, to train over 406,000 participants through in-person workshops. These programs equipped students, parents, and teachers with essential skills for navigating the digital world safely.
In Nigeria, TikTok launched Phase 2 of the #SaferTogether initiative in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Data Science Nigeria (DSN). This phase builds on Phase 1’s success in educating families in Abuja, Lagos, and Kano about TikTok’s safety tools and mental wellness features. The new phase aims to expand into additional Nigerian states and increase parental engagement.
“We value forums such as TikTok's Safer Internet Summit,” said Emmanuel Edet, Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance at NITDA. “This partnership empowers us to scale internet safety efforts more effectively.”
In Egypt, TikTok signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Journalists Syndicate to boost media literacy and combat misinformation. Through targeted workshops, journalists are being trained to detect fake news and understand online privacy risks—further solidifying TikTok’s commitment to digital awareness in professional media spaces.
Amplifying Youth Voices Through Global Youth Council
TikTok also spotlighted its Global Youth Council, which is expanding in 2025 to increase African representation. Initially launched in 2023, the council now includes 28 members from 15 countries, including new additions from Nigeria and Cameroon.
The Youth Council plays a pivotal role in shaping TikTok’s policies on safety, mental health, and inclusivity, giving young users a direct line to platform decision-making. Returning members from Kenya, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, and others will continue their tenure, further bridging regional and global perspectives.
Looking Ahead: Innovation Meets Governance
The Africa Safer Internet Summit is more than a platform for policy discussion—it is a blueprint for TikTok’s vision of digital governance. The company reiterated its intention to continue working closely with African governments, civil society, and creators to build a safer internet for all.
From automated content moderation and partnerships with safety experts, to grassroots training programs and youth councils, TikTok is weaving safety into the very fabric of its digital ecosystem in Africa.
For more information about TikTok's online safety initiatives, visit the following resources:
#SaferTogether isn’t just a hashtag—it’s a growing movement shaping the future of digital engagement across Africa.
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