TikTok has launched its first-ever Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council. This initiative reflects TikTok’s ongoing commitment to enhancing online safety. Moreover, it is accompanied by the expansion of the #SaferTogether. These community education campaign, specifically designed to inform users about the platform’s community guidelines and safety features. As a result, these efforts collectively aim to foster a more secure digital environment
The newly established Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council unites a diverse group of experts. These include academicians, content creators, and policy specialists from across the continent. This Include Kenya’s Lilian Kariuki, Prof. Guy Berger of South Africa and Dennis Coffie, a prominent content creator from Ghana among others. These members will collaborate closely with TikTok to tackle regional safety concerns, craft innovative policies, and proactively address emerging challenges
Valiant Richey, TikTok’s Global Head of Outreach and Partnerships Trust and Safety, underscored the significance of incorporating African voices into the platform’s safety strategies. He highlighted that engaging diverse perspectives is crucial for creating more effective and inclusive safety measures that resonate with users across the continent.
“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,”
In conjunction with the advisory council’s launch, TikTok is intensifying its #SaferTogether campaign to rally the community around platform safety. This comprehensive initiative encompasses workshops, extensive social media outreach, and strategic partnerships with influential stakeholders to underscore the vital importance of adhering to TikTok’s community standards.
Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, Director of Government Relations & Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, underscored the joint responsibility involved in maintaining platform safety. “The community empowerment campaign highlights the importance of safety being a shared responsibility.”
This comes as a relief to many creators especially those that have lost their accounts on the platform. In Kenya, creators like Miss Njagi, Famous dancer Kendi Christine have fallen victim of loosing their accounts with zero explanation for that reason