Tiktok
TikTok has reaffirmed its commitment in protecting its users from threats including cyberbullying, harmful content and personal data exposure among other challenges.
The platform’s management team led by Ms. Zara Higgs, Head of Public Policy Programs at TikTok for the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, Pakistan & South Asia said they have continued educating their users on content control mechanisms and data protection and have high tech monitoring tools that can detect and remove harmful contents from their platforms.
Speaking during a ‘Safer Together’ campaign forum at Zetech University, Mangu Campus yesterday, Ms Higgs called on the users to maintain a positive online presence and use the platform effectively to earn and create employment.
“We have been conducting global digital safety campaigns particularly in the light of Africa’s unique challenges and its rapid growth in social media usage. This has brought about rising concerns on safety of its youngest users. This is particularly critical as TikTok faces scrutiny and bans in several countries due to concerns over its content and influence on young people,” said Ms Higgs.
Zetech Vice Chancellor Prof Njenga Munene while underscoring the significance of the platform in unlocking creativity and connecting people worldwide said the sensitization forum will help create a friendlier environment for creativity. He at the same time raised concern over the misuse of the platform by young tiktokers, particularly students who use most of their time online at the expense of classwork.
“We see young people bullying or invading others’ privacy which should not be the case if these safeguards are put in place. There was a recent case where a young tiktoker committed suicide after engaging with harmful content on TikTok which shows the impact that inappropriate content can have on vulnerable users,” said Prof Munene.
Other stakeholders including the Assistant Data Protection Commissioner, Emmanuel Maiyo, highlighted the importance of data ownership and the need for individuals to be mindful of privacy policies. He encouraged users to report any violations and stressed the necessity of implementing security measures to avoid legal issues related to data protection.
His sentiments were echoed by Emma Irungu, Head of Compliance Management at the Kenya Films Classification Board who emphasized on the board’s commitment to work closely with platforms such as TikTok in regulating content from creation to distribution to consumption.
She called on the youth to embrace platforms like TikTok as valuable tools for content creation and distribution so as to earn.