TikTok has taken a significant step towards improving user safety by establishing its first Safety Advisory Board for Sub-Saharan Africa. This initiative, unveiled at the #SaferTogether summit in Nairobi, Kenya, marks a pioneering move in the region’s social media landscape.
The formation of the council underlines TikTok’s commitment to creating a safer digital environment through an inclusive and collaborative approach, through shared responsibility, to achieve platform safety.
Made up of eight members from diverse backgrounds, the board includes academics, content creators, researchers and experts in various fields. These individuals bring a wealth of experience in areas such as youth safety, freedom of expression and combating hate speech.
The council’s main function is to provide localised recommendations to shape TikTok’s security policies, product features and processes. It also aims to address region-specific challenges and anticipate future problems, ensuring that the platform remains responsive to evolving needs.
A key focus of the council is to help refine the TikTok Community Guidelines, ensuring that they align with African cultural nuances and social realities. These recommendations, if globally applicable, can benefit users all over the world.
Text by Eduardo Quive
