TikTok Strengthens Online Safety Efforts at 2nd Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit in Cape Town
TikTok hosted its second Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, bringing together government officials, regulators, and industry leaders from across the region to discuss key issues related to online safety, content moderation, and digital policy development. Delegates from several Sub-Saharan African countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire, participated in the discussions.
The summit served as a platform for TikTok to highlight its ongoing commitment to ensuring user safety across the region, particularly in Nigeria, and to facilitate collaboration between government entities, tech companies, and other stakeholders in creating effective digital safety frameworks that protect users while fostering innovation.
Government and Industry Leaders Address Online Safety Challenges
The summit was opened by South Africa’s Hon. Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, who emphasised the need for cooperation between governments, technology platforms, and communities in developing a safer digital ecosystem.
Helena Lersch, TikTok’s Vice President for Public Policy, reiterated the company’s commitment to user safety, stating, “Billions of people come to TikTok every day to create, share, and connect. We are continuously refining our policies and practices to ensure the platform remains safe for everyone. This summit highlights the importance of collaboration between industry leaders and regulators to build a secure digital environment.”
TikTok’s Director of Public Policy & Government Relations for Sub-Saharan Africa, Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, also underscored the importance of joint efforts in ensuring the safety of African users, particularly young people, in the digital space.
TikTok’s Content Moderation in Sub-Saharan Africa
A key focus of the summit was TikTok’s efforts to improve content moderation across Sub-Saharan Africa. The platform reported a significant 249.81% increase in its content removal rate from Q2 2023 to Q4 2024, indicating a continued focus on upholding community guidelines and removing harmful content.
TikTok’s Community Guidelines Enforcement Reports showed that the platform has invested in both automated content moderation technology and human experts to detect and remove harmful material before it reaches users. In Sub-Saharan Africa, TikTok removed over 7.5 million videos in Q3 2024 and more than 8 million in Q4 2024, with 99.5% of these videos being removed prior to any user reports. This approach reflects TikTok’s ongoing efforts to proactively monitor and manage content across the platform.
Globally, between July and September 2024, TikTok removed 147 million videos, with 118 million of those removed through automated systems.
#SaferTogether Campaign: Expanding Digital Safety Initiatives in Nigeria
A central component of TikTok’s efforts to promote online safety is its #SaferTogether campaign, which has expanded across Africa, including in Nigeria. The campaign aims to raise awareness about online safety, digital literacy, and responsible content creation.
In Nigeria, the second phase of the #SaferTogether campaign is being implemented in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Data Science Nigeria (DSN). The initiative follows the success of the first phase, which focused on educating parents in cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Kano about TikTok’s safety features. Phase 2 aims to extend the campaign to additional states and broaden its focus to include parents, teachers, and guardians.
Additionally, TikTok is working with local content creators to promote the platform’s safety tools and community guidelines, encouraging responsible online behavior across Nigeria.
Efforts to Promote Digital Literacy Across Africa
Beyond Nigeria, TikTok is partnering with organisations in other African countries to increase digital literacy and media awareness. In Kenya, TikTok has worked with Eveminet, a youth online protection organisation, to reach over 406,000 participants through in-person workshops, providing them with the knowledge and skills for safe online engagement.
In Egypt, TikTok signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Journalists Syndicate to promote media literacy and address online privacy concerns. The partnership includes workshops aimed at helping journalists detect misinformation and safely navigate digital platforms.
Global Youth Council: Amplifying the Voices of Young Users
TikTok has also expanded its Global Youth Council, a platform that empowers young users to help shape the company’s policies. The council, which was launched in 2023, now includes 28 members from 15 countries, with new representatives from Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African nations joining for the 2025 term. The Global Youth Council plays a key role in advising TikTok on issues related to safety, well-being, and inclusivity, ensuring that the perspectives of young users are integrated into the platform’s policy development.
Conclusion: Collaboration for a Safer Digital Future
The Safer Internet Summit has provided a vital space for collaboration between governments, regulators, and tech companies to address challenges related to online safety. TikTok’s ongoing initiatives, such as the #SaferTogether campaign and its expanded content moderation efforts, reflect the platform’s commitment to creating a safe and responsible digital environment for users in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa.
As a representative from NITDA noted, “We are pleased to partner with TikTok on the #SaferTogether campaign. This partnership demonstrates our shared commitment to enhancing digital safety and providing safer online spaces for Nigerians.”
For more information on TikTok’s safety policies and initiatives in Nigeria, visit the platform’s Safety Centre, Guardian’s Guide, and Teen Safety Center.
