TikTok has reaffirmed its commitment to online safety in Africa by engaging governments and digital regulators at the second Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit, held in Cape Town, South Africa.
According to a statement released on Thursday and obtained by PUNCH Online, the summit convened officials and industry leaders from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire to discuss content moderation, digital policies, and user protection.
South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, underscored the need for collaboration, stating, “Creating a safer digital environment requires governments, tech companies, and communities to work together.” Echoing this sentiment, TikTok’s Vice President for Public Policy, Helena Lersch, highlighted the platform’s ongoing efforts, saying, “With billions using TikTok daily, we are continuously refining our policies to maintain a safe space.”
TikTok has reported a 249.81% increase in content removals between Q2 2023 and Q4 2024, with over 8 million videos taken down in the last quarter alone. While the platform heavily relies on automated systems for moderation, concerns persist over their accuracy and transparency.
In addition to content regulation, TikTok is expanding digital literacy efforts through its #SaferTogether campaign. In Nigeria, it has partnered with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Data Science Nigeria to educate parents, teachers, and guardians on responsible internet use. Similar initiatives have been launched in Kenya and Egypt to enhance media literacy and promote safe content creation.
TikTok’s Director of Public Policy & Government Relations for Sub-Saharan Africa, Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, stressed the importance of prioritizing young users’ safety, particularly as digital engagement surges across Africa. To further amplify youth voices, the platform has expanded its Global Youth Council, now including representatives from Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan nations. However, questions remain about whether the council’s recommendations will translate into meaningful policy changes.
“Despite progress, challenges around content moderation, transparency, and long-term behavioral change persist. Stakeholders emphasize that sustained cooperation between tech companies, regulators, and local organizations is crucial for lasting digital safety solutions in Africa,” Mgwili-Sibanda noted.
