TikTok and the African Union collaborate on a digital safety campaign amid the ongoing country bans. Social media platform TikTok, the popular short-form video platform, has teamed up with the African Union Commission’s Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate (WGYD) to promote online safety among African youth and parents.
TikTok and the African Union Collaborate
Amidst increased global scrutiny and bans in Senegal and Somalia in August 2023, TikTok, the popular short-form video platform, has partnered with the African Union Commission’s Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate (WGYD) to promote online safety among African youth and parents.
The campaign aims to raise awareness and educate everyone, including youth, parents, and educators, on staying safe online. TikTok plans to create content tailored to local languages and cultures for broad relevance and impact.
TikTok’s Popularity in Africa
TikTok’s popularity in Africa was highlighted in a Reuters Institute Digital News Report in June 2023, with Kenya ranking first among the world’s top TikTok users and South Africa coming in third.
Despite its popularity, TikTok has faced challenges in Africa. In August 2023, a petition to ban TikTok in Kenya was submitted, citing inappropriate content. Although a national ban was avoided, TikTok had to take measures to remove offensive content.
Somalia and Senegal also banned TikTok due to concerns about terrorist content and dissemination of hateful messages, respectively. Egypt and Uganda considered similar bans during this period.
The partnership with the African Union
The partnership with the African Union aims to foster a digitally safe environment and safeguard the digital futures of Africans.
Prudence Nonkululeko Ngwenya, Director of the African Union’s Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate, emphasized the initiative’s alignment with the African Union’s ongoing efforts to promote safe online experiences for young people in Africa through the 1 Million Next Level Initiative.
TikTok’s Ultimatum in the United States
In the United States, the House of Representatives has passed legislation requiring TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the social media platform or face a ban in the country.
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