TikTok has launched its first-ever Safety Advisory Council for Sub-Saharan Africa, a significant step toward ensuring a safer online environment for users in the region.
This 8-member council, which includes representatives from Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, was introduced during TikTok's Safety Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
The initiative aligns with the expansion of TikTok's #SaferTogether campaign, which focuses on community education around safety.
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Among the council members is Lillian Kariuki, founder and executive director of Watoto Watch Network, Kenya's sole representative. Other notable members include Prof.Guy Berger from South Africa's Rhodes University, Dennis Coffie, a content creator from Ghana, and Peter Cunliffe-Jones, a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Westminster in the UK.
The council also features Aisha Dabo, Co-Founder of AfricTivistes from Senegal, Dr. Akinola Olojo, a Nigerian expert in preventing violent extremism, and two Ethiopian scholars, Prof. Medhane Tadesse and independent researcher Berhan Taye.
Since 2020, TikTok has established nine regional Safety Advisory Councils, including this latest addition for Sub-Saharan Africa. These councils consist of experts in youth safety, free speech, and countering hate speech, and they play a crucial role in shaping TikTok’s policies and safety features.
Valiant Richey, TikTok's Global Head of Outreach and Partnerships, emphasized the importance of including African voices in the platform’s safety efforts. He expressed confidence that the council's diverse expertise will contribute to creating a safer TikTok experience.
TikTok’s #SaferTogether campaign will also involve workshops, social media outreach, and partnerships to educate users on the platform's community guidelines.
Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, Director of Government Relations & Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighted that safety is a shared responsibility, and the campaign aims to empower the community to contribute to a safer online space.
