TikTok has reiterated its commitment to online safety and digital literacy during the second Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit held in Cape Town, South Africa.

The summit, which brought together government officials, digital regulators, and industry leaders from across the region, focused on addressing online safety challenges and the role of technology companies in protecting users. Delegates from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire participated in the discussions.

South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Hon. Solly Malatsi, opened the summit by emphasizing the importance of collaboration between governments, technology companies, and communities in tackling online harm.

“Creating a safer digital environment requires collective efforts from all sectors involved,” Malatsi said.

TikTok representatives highlighted the platform’s approach to content moderation and digital safety. Helena Lersch, TikTok’s Vice President for Public Policy, stressed the company’s commitment to refining safety measures.

“Billions of people use TikTok daily, and we are continuously refining our policies to help maintain a safe environment,” Lersch said.

Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, TikTok’s Director of Public Policy & Government Relations for Sub-Saharan Africa, focused on safeguarding young users as digital engagement increases across the continent.

TikTok reported a significant rise in content removal across Sub-Saharan Africa, with a 249.81% increase from Q2 2023 to Q4 2024.

According to the platform’s Community Guidelines Enforcement Reports, over 7.5 million videos were removed in Q3 2024, rising to more than 8 million in Q4.

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A substantial portion of these removals occurred before user reports were filed, reflecting the platform’s reliance on automated systems to detect and eliminate harmful content.

“We will continue to strengthen our content moderation systems to protect users and uphold community guidelines,” Mgwili-Sibanda said.

TikTok’s #SaferTogether campaign, which promotes digital literacy and responsible content creation, has been extended to more African countries, including Nigeria.

In Nigeria, the second phase of the campaign is being implemented in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Data Science Nigeria (DSN). The initiative aims to reach more regions and engage stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and community leaders.

TikTok has partnered with organizations across Sub-Saharan Africa to improve media awareness. In Kenya, the platform collaborated with youth protection group Eveminet, hosting workshops that educated over 400,000 participants on safe online practices.

In Egypt, TikTok signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Journalists Syndicate to promote media literacy and combat misinformation.

TikTok’s Global Youth Council, launched in 2023, now includes 28 members from 15 countries, with additional representation from Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African nations. The council provides young users a platform to influence the company’s policies on safety and inclusivity.

The summit emphasized the need for continued cooperation between technology platforms, governments, and civil society to address emerging online safety concerns.

For more information on TikTok’s safety measures, users can visit the platform’s Safety Centre, Guardian’s Guide, and Teen Safety Center.