Sylvia Duruson
TikTok has taken a significant step towards enhancing user safety by establishing its first Safety Advisory Council for Sub-Saharan Africa. This initiative, unveiled at the #SaferTogether summit in Nairobi, Kenya, marks a pioneering move in the social media landscape of the region.
The council’s formation underscores TikTok’s commitment to creating a safer digital environment through an inclusive and collaborative approach. Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, Director of Government Relations & Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized the importance of shared responsibility in achieving platform safety.
Comprising eight members from diverse backgrounds, the council includes academics, content creators, researchers, and experts in various fields. These individuals bring a wealth of experience in areas such as youth safety, free expression, and countering hate speech.
The council’s primary function is to provide localised insights and recommendations to shape TikTok’s policies, product features, and safety processes. This approach aims to address region-specific challenges and anticipate future issues, ensuring the platform remains responsive to evolving needs.
Council members will serve for at least a year, with the possibility of longer terms to maximize impact. While not a paid engagement, members will be compensated for their time and contributions. TikTok seeks innovative ideas and candid feedback from these experts to drive continuous improvement.
A key focus of the council is to help refine TikTok’s Community Guidelines, ensuring they align with African cultural nuances and social realities. These recommendations, if globally applicable, could benefit users worldwide.
The launch event in Nairobi attracted government representatives, including Ms Mary Kerema, Secretary of ICT, e-Government and Digital Economy, and Raymond Ochieng, Secretary of Youth Development. Ms Kerema praised TikTok’s proactive approach to community safety and content regulation, highlighting the platform’s unique efforts in stakeholder engagement and user education.
TikTok’s safety initiatives extend beyond the council. The platform has partnered with the African Union Commission’s Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate to deliver digital literacy programs across Africa. This collaboration, announced at the TikTok Safer Internet Summit in Ghana, aims to promote responsible digital citizenship.
The formation of this council is part of TikTok’s global strategy, which includes nine regional Safety Advisory Councils and a U.S. Content Advisory Council. These groups play a crucial role in addressing regional and global safety concerns on the platform.
TikTok’s approach to safety involves multiple layers of engagement. In addition to the regional councils, the platform recently launched a Global Youth Council, comprising teenagers from various countries, to gain insights from a younger perspective.
By engaging diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, academics, NGOs, and community leaders, TikTok aims to create a collaborative ecosystem for ensuring a secure and positive online environment. This multifaceted approach to platform safety sets a new standard in the social media industry, particularly in the African context.
The launch of the Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council represents a significant milestone in TikTok’s efforts to tailor its safety measures to regional needs while maintaining global standards. As the platform continues to grow in popularity across Africa, these initiatives are crucial in fostering a responsible and secure digital space for all users.
