TikTok, in partnership with the Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change (CABC), is stepping up efforts to protect women in the digital space through a new series of Women in Media Safety Roundtables across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The sessions, recently held in Lagos and Abuja, examined and curbed tech-facilitated gender-based violence (tFGBV) while promoting safer participation of women, especially journalists and media workers online.
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According to the organisers, the roundtables bring together a diverse group of journalists, civil society actors, regulators, digital safety experts, and content creators to exchange data, share experiences, and shape practical solutions for safer digital communities.
“Addressing issues such as tech-facilitated gender-based violence requires more than just policies; it demands deep listening, data-driven insights and collaboration across sectors,” said Kim Thipe, executive director of CABC, who described the meetings as a way to merge lived experience with research-backed strategies.
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Listening to and Learning from the Community
As online spaces expand, women and other vulnerable groups continue to face distinctive threats that can restrict free expression and participation. To address these risks, TikTok says it is learning directly from those on the frontlines, including Nigerian journalists and media professionals, to improve safety tools, policies and enforcement.
“To truly understand our local community, we must first understand their world. We recognise the diversity of our global audience and the need to know what helps people feel safe to enjoy their best experience
explained Duduzile Mkhize, TikTok’s outreach and partnerships manager for Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Ms Mkhize added, “As we learn more, we do more. We value the Nigerian media industry’s role in helping us create a safe and creative platform for content creators and everyone who uses TikTok.”
Through these dialogues, TikTok hopes to deepen its safety work in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the protective tools already available on the platform.
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The goal is to build enduring trust and partnerships that enable women and marginalised communities to speak freely and participate fully without fear.
Commending the initiative, Abiodun Essiet, senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central), said: “Tackling tech-facilitated gender-based violence requires a united front, and we welcome TikTok’s commitment to working alongside government, civil society and industry.
Empowering women to participate fully and safely in media is not just a digital issue, but a democratic imperative.”
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