Africa, TikTok collaborate to build safer digital spaces for children

Governments across Africa and social media platform TikTok are strengthening collaboration to build safer digital spaces for children, as millions of young users join the internet each year and new technologies such as artificial intelligence reshape the online environment.

The effort is gaining momentum following the adoption of the African Union Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy in 2024, the continent’s first regional framework focused on protecting children online. Nearly two years later, governments are moving from policy commitments to practical steps that include consultations, education programmes and partnerships with technology companies.

Across Africa, policymakers say the goal is to ensure that children can benefit from the opportunities created by digital platforms while reducing exposure to risks such as cyberbullying, exploitation, harmful content and misuse of personal data.

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In Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy has launched a nationwide public consultation on child online protection in partnership with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission. The process is gathering views from parents, educators, digital experts and young people to help shape a national framework that reflects the country’s growing digital ecosystem.

Minister Bosun Tijani said the internet has become an important space for learning, creativity and communication, especially for young people, but noted that safeguards must grow alongside digital adoption.

He said children face a range of online risks, including cyberbullying and harmful content, as well as emerging concerns related to artificial intelligence tools that can be used to manipulate images or spread misinformation.

According to Tijani, any approach to online safety must protect children’s rights while still allowing innovation and digital opportunities to flourish.

The conversation is also expanding across other African countries as regulators and technology companies seek stronger cooperation.

In Kenya, the Communications Authority of Kenya has highlighted the need for improved protections for young internet users. Officials say the rapid growth of social media use among teenagers and children has made online safety an urgent policy priority.

Speaking at the 2026 TikTok Sub-Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit, Mohamed Haji, representing the regulator’s director-general David Mugonyi, said digital platforms must continue strengthening age-appropriate protections, parental control features and content moderation systems.

He also noted that emerging technologies such as deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation could create new risks if not properly addressed, particularly during sensitive political or social moments.

Technology companies say they recognise the importance of working with governments and civil society groups to improve online safety.

Tokunbo Ibrahim-Okuribido, government relations and public policy manager for Nigeria and West Africa at TikTok, said building a safer digital environment requires cooperation across multiple sectors.

She said TikTok is investing in content moderation, transparency tools and digital literacy initiatives aimed at helping users understand online risks and protect themselves on the platform.

“Safety must be the foundation of digital innovation,” she said, adding that partnerships with governments and community groups are essential to developing effective safeguards for young people online.

As part of this effort, TikTok has partnered with the African Union on a digital safety awareness campaign known as “Safer Together.”

Shungu Khazadi, TikTok’s government relations and public policy lead for Francophone Africa, Kenya and Uganda, said the initiative provides guidance for teenagers, parents and educators on how to manage online risks and develop safer digital habits.

According to Khazadi, the programme includes digital ambassadors called “The Guardians,” who create educational content to help young users recognise potential threats, secure their accounts and make responsible decisions online.

He added that the campaign also features a digital safety toolkit designed for African communities, using storytelling and practical guidance to raise awareness about online protection.

Globally, technology companies are facing increasing expectations to strengthen protections for younger users on social media platforms.

Valiant Richey, TikTok’s head of trust and safety for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said the company believes creativity and expression online can grow best in an environment built on trust and safety.

He pointed to the role African creators are playing on the platform, with many using digital content to build businesses and reach audiences beyond their home countries.

Richey said TikTok’s digital well-being programmes have reached more than 700,000 parents, educators and young people in Kenya, and that the company plans to expand digital literacy and artificial intelligence education across more parts of Africa.

The platform has also introduced tools designed to help users identify manipulated media, including technology that automatically labels AI-generated content through a system known as Content Credentials.

Experts say the focus on online safety is becoming more important as Africa’s internet population continues to expand rapidly. With smartphone adoption rising, millions of children are gaining access to digital platforms for the first time.

Data from the United Nations shows that nearly two-thirds of children globally believe cyberbullying is increasing, highlighting the need for stronger awareness and protection mechanisms.

In parts of eastern and southern Africa, regulators say online solicitation rates remain among the highest worldwide, adding urgency to efforts aimed at strengthening child online protection policies.

Kenya’s technology envoy Philip Thigo, said digital platforms have become an important part of economic and cultural life across the continent, enabling young Africans to learn, communicate and participate in the digital economy.

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However, he warned that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence technologies could reshape the online landscape and increase the spread of misinformation if not carefully managed.

Thigo said cooperation between governments, technology companies and civil society will be critical to ensuring that digital innovation continues while maintaining strong safeguards for users.

With more than half of Africa’s population under the age of 25, policymakers say the outcome of these efforts could shape the continent’s digital future for decades.

Across Africa, the growing partnership between governments, regulators and platforms like TikTok signals a broader commitment to ensuring that the digital world remains a safe and empowering space where children can learn, create and thrive.