On March 27, 2025, TikTok furthered its commitment to improving online safety in Africa by engaging with governments and digital regulators at the second Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit held in Cape Town, South Africa.
The summit brought together leaders from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire to discuss vital issues such as content moderation, digital policy, and user protection. South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, emphasized the importance of collaboration between governments, tech companies, and communities to create a safer digital environment.
Helena Lersch, TikTok’s Vice President for Public Policy, highlighted the platform’s ongoing efforts to refine its policies, ensuring a safe space for its billions of daily users. TikTok’s commitment to content moderation has been evident with a reported 249.81% increase in content removals from Q2 2023 to Q4 2024, with over 8 million videos deleted in Q4 alone. Despite relying heavily on automated systems, there are still concerns regarding the accuracy and transparency of these systems.
TikTok is also focusing on expanding digital literacy, with its #SaferTogether campaign in collaboration with NITDA and Data Science Nigeria in Nigeria. These initiatives aim to educate parents, teachers, and guardians, while similar efforts in Kenya and Egypt aim to promote media literacy and responsible content creation.
Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, TikTok’s Director of Public Policy & Government Relations for Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized the importance of addressing youth safety, particularly in Africa, where digital engagement is growing rapidly. TikTok has expanded its Global Youth Council to amplify the voices of young people, including representatives from Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan nations. However, there are still questions about whether the council’s recommendations will lead to real policy changes.
Despite advancements, challenges persist in content moderation, transparency, and achieving long-term behavioral changes. Stakeholders agree that continued cooperation between tech companies, regulators, and local organizations is critical for ensuring long-term digital safety solutions in Africa.
