TikTok has announced the launch of its inaugural Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council. This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to bring together experts from the region to provide guidance and expertise on developing policies and strategies to address safety challenges.
The Council is composed of leaders from various sectors, including civil society, academia, and the creator community. By tapping into this diverse pool of knowledge and experience, TikTok hopes to foster a collaborative approach to ensuring a secure and positive environment for its growing user base in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“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,” said Valiant Richey, Global Head of Outreach and Partnerships, Trust and Safety at TikTok. “This group of leaders was chosen for their broad range of expertise and experience, and we look forward to working with them over the coming years.”
The members of the Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council include:
Prof. Guy Berger, Rhodes University (South Africa)
Dennis Coffie, Content creator (Ghana)P
Peter Cunliffe-Jones, University of Westminster Visiting Research Fellow (UK)
Aisha Dabo, Co-Founder and coordinator of AfricTivistes (Senegal)
Lillian Kariuki, Founder and Executive Director of Watoto Watch Network (Kenya)D
Dr. Akinola Olojo, Expert on preventing and countering violent extremism (Nigeria)
Prof. Medhane Tadesse, Policy academic on peace and security issues (Ethiopia)B
Berhan Taye, Independent Researcher (Ethiopia)
These experts will work closely with TikTok to develop forward-looking policies, address regional safety concerns, and help the platform anticipate and manage emerging challenges. Their input will be instrumental in ensuring that TikTok’s approach to user safety remains responsive to the unique needs and dynamics of the Sub-Saharan African region.
In addition to the Safety Advisory Council, TikTok is also expanding its #SaferTogether community education campaign in the region. This initiative aims to engage the TikTok community directly, promoting a better understanding of the platform’s community guidelines and safety features.
“The community empowerment campaign highlights the importance of safety being a shared responsibility,” said Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, Director of Government Relations & Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa. “This part of the campaign will speak directly to the TikTok community, to join us in making TikTok a safer space for all by ensuring they follow the Community Guidelines and use the safety features available to them.”
The #SaferTogether campaign has already achieved significant milestones in Kenya, where it has reached over 64,000 students, 467 parents, and 346 teachers through workshops and outreach efforts. The platform is now expanding this initiative to Nigeria and exploring further partnerships, such as with the African Union Commission’s Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate, to deliver digital literacy programs across the continent.
By combining the expertise of the Safety Advisory Council with the community-centric #SaferTogether campaign, TikTok is demonstrating its commitment to fostering a secure and positive online environment for its users in Sub-Saharan Africa. As the platform continues to grow in the region, these efforts will play a crucial role in ensuring that creativity, self-expression, and safety go hand in hand on TikTok.
