TikTok (www.TikTok.com) is taking main steps to spice up security on its platform throughout Sub-Saharan Africa with the launch of its inaugural Security Advisory Council and the growth of its #SaferTogether group schooling marketing campaign. By partnering with key stakeholders, together with policymakers, members from academia, NGOs, and group leaders, TikTok goals to foster a collaborative strategy to making sure a safe and optimistic platform setting. This announcement was made at TikTok’s Security Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya.
A Steady Funding: The Security Advisory Council
Since 2020, TikTok has established 9 regional Security Advisory Councils alongside the U.S. Content material Advisory Council, every composed of specialists in areas resembling youth security, free expression, and hate speech. These councils play an important position in shaping TikTok’s insurance policies, product options, and security processes, guaranteeing the platform stays aware of evolving challenges.
The newly launched Sub-Saharan Africa Security Advisory Council will additional this effort by bringing collectively native specialists who will collaborate with TikTok to develop forward-looking insurance policies and deal with regional security issues. Their enter will assist TikTok handle present points and anticipate future challenges, reinforcing the platform’s dedication to person security and fostering a optimistic on-line setting.
Members of the Sub-Saharan Africa Security Advisory Council are:
Prof Man Berger, Rhodes College (South Africa)
Dennis Coffie, Content material creator (Ghana)
Peter Cunliffe-Jones, College of Westminster Visiting Analysis Fellow (UK)
Aisha Dabo, Co-Founder and coordinator of AfricTivistes (Senegal)
Lillian Kariuki, Founder and Government Director of Watoto Watch Community (Kenya)
Dr Akinola Olojo, Knowledgeable on stopping and countering violent extremism (Nigeria)
Prof Medhane Tadesse, Coverage educational on peace and safety points (Ethiopia)
Berhan Taye, Unbiased Researcher (Ethiopia)
“With the launch of the Sub-Saharan Africa Security Advisory Council, we’re demonstrating our dedication to together with professional African voices in our Belief and Security work. This group of leaders was chosen for his or her broad vary of experience and expertise, and we sit up for working with them over the approaching years.” – Valiant Richey, World Head of Outreach and Partnerships, Belief and Security, TikTok
#SaferTogether: A Neighborhood-Centric Strategy
This iteration of the #SaferTogether marketing campaign is designed to have interaction the group actively in selling a fundamental understanding of the platform’s group tips and security options. This initiative will embrace workshops, social media outreach, and partnerships with key stakeholders to boost consciousness in regards to the significance of following TikTok’s group requirements. The marketing campaign goals to foster a collaborative effort to make sure a safe setting for artistic expression.
Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, Director of Authorities Relations&Public Coverage for Sub-Saharan Africa emphasised, “The group empowerment marketing campaign highlights the significance of security being a shared accountability. This a part of the marketing campaign will converse on to the TikTok group, to hitch us in making TikTok a safer house for all by guaranteeing they observe the Neighborhood Pointers and use the protection options accessible to them. With the extra layer that the Security Advisory Council presents, we consider that security could be achieved, collectively.”
Understanding TikTok’s Neighborhood Pointers
TikTok’s Neighborhood Pointers (https://apo-opa.co/4dT5vdm) are integral to the platform’s security efforts. Developed via complete analysis and enter from varied stakeholders, together with security specialists and group members, these tips set the usual for acceptable behaviour and content material on the platform. They’re designed to foster a secure and welcoming setting, guaranteeing that everybody can categorical themselves freely and creatively whereas staying shielded from potential hurt. The rules are constantly up to date to deal with rising security issues and assist a respectful on-line group.
Affect of the #SaferTogether Partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa
In Kenya, TikTok has to date achieved outstanding milestones with its flagship #SaferTogether workshops (https://apo-opa.co/3Ayt4cZ).
Reaching college students and youth aged 13 to 24 from secondary faculties to universities
Conducting workshops in 26 out of 47 counties throughout Kenya, these workshops proceed to encourage greatest practices on on-line platforms
Workshops have additionally benefitted over 64,000 college students, greater than 467 mother and father, and 346 academics
In 2022, the #SaferTogether workshops and marketing campaign launched in Nigeria.
Earlier this yr, TikTok introduced the official partnership with the African Union Fee’s Ladies, Gender, and Youth Directorate (https://apo-opa.co/3XhbDGU) (WGYD) on the inaugural TikTok Safer Web Summit in Ghana. This partnership will assist ship digital literacy programmes throughout Africa, guiding younger individuals and their caregivers on easy methods to diversify their livelihoods utilizing digital platforms, in a secure and fascinating means.
Safaricom has been a long-standing strategic companion of TikTok, collaborating on numerous cell and community initiatives over the previous a number of years, together with TikTok knowledge bundles and collaborating within the #LevelUpAfrica Creator occasion. In gentle of those ongoing collaborations, Safaricom expressed robust assist for TikTok’s latest efforts to reinforce on-line security in Africa. “At Safaricom, we see the web as a useful resource that everybody ought to have entry to, safely. Having witnessed the announcement of the TikTok Security Advisory Council and the launch of the #SaferTogether marketing campaign, we commend TikTok’s efforts in bringing collectively varied stakeholders for a standard purpose – guaranteeing on-line security and selling the secure use of its platform throughout Africa,” mentioned Fawzia Ali, Chief Client Enterprise Officer, Safaricom PLC.
Extra details about the work of the Security Advisory Councils could be discovered on TikTok’s Transparency Centre (https://apo-opa.co/3MmsGAJ).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TikTok.