TikTok has forged a partnership with the African Union Commission’s Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate (WGYD) to launch a multi-year online safety campaign aimed at youth across Africa. This initiative seeks to raise awareness about online safety among young people, as well as parents, teachers, and guardians.
The collaboration between the Chinese social media platform and the AUC was unveiled at the Safer Internet Summit in Accra, where they introduced the #SaferTogether Campaign. This Africa-wide campaign aims to educate and engage youngsters, parents, teachers, and community leaders on digital safety through various in-app and on-ground activities.
With a significant 60% active user rate in Africa, TikTok recognizes the importance of fostering a positive and secure online environment for its users. As part of the campaign, educational in-app videos featuring safety tips will be launched, alongside engaging hashtag challenges and endorsements from trusted creators.
Moreover, the campaign extends beyond the app itself. TikTok and the AUC are developing downloadable “Digital Safety Toolkits” for teachers and guardians to empower adults in guiding young people toward safe online habits. These toolkits will also be accessible through a dedicated section within the TikTok app, providing interactive guidance on digital safety.
Ms. Prudence Nonkululeko Ngwenya, Director of the Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate at the African Union, emphasized the importance of providing a safe online environment for children and young people to benefit from digital platforms while staying connected and improving their digital literacy.
However, TikTok has faced challenges related to privacy and safety in the past. Last year, the platform received a substantial fine in the EU for mishandling children’s data, and it also encountered criticism in Kenya for allowing explicit livestreams that could potentially be accessed by minors. Additionally, the United States government has considered banning TikTok, citing concerns over data privacy and security, despite its large user base of 170 million Americans, half of whom are under 25.
