As millions of young people join the internet each year and new technologies such as artificial intelligence reshape the online landscape, governments across Africa and social media platform TikTok are stepping up collaboration to create safer digital spaces for children.
This effort gains momentum following the adoption of the African Union’s Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy in 2024, Africa’s first regional framework focused on protecting children online. Almost two years on, the government is moving from policy initiatives to practical steps such as consultations, education programs and partnerships with technology companies.
Policymakers across Africa say their goal is to ensure children benefit from the opportunities created by digital platforms, while reducing their 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, in collaboration with the Nigerian Data Protection Commission, has launched a national public consultation on children’s online protection. The process gathers input 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 as digital adoption comes, safeguards must also be strengthened.
He said children face a range of online risks, including cyberbullying and harmful content, as well as new concerns related to artificial intelligence tools that can be used to manipulate images and spread misinformation.
According to Tijani, any approach to online safety must protect children’s rights while allowing innovation and digital opportunities to flourish.
The conversation is spreading to other African countries as regulators and technology companies seek stronger cooperation.
In Kenya, the Kenya Communications Authority highlighted the need to strengthen protections for youth internet users. Officials say the rapid increase in social media use among teens and children has made online safety an urgent policy priority.
Speaking at the 2026 TikTok Sub-Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit on behalf of the regulator’s director-general, David Mugoni, Mohamed Haji said digital platforms must continue to strengthen 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, especially during politically or socially sensitive times.
Technology companies say they recognize the importance of working with governments and civil society organizations to improve online safety.
Tokunbo Ibrahim Okribido, TikTok’s government relations and public policy manager for Nigeria and West Africa, said building a safer digital environment requires collaboration 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 partnered with the African Union on a digital safety awareness campaign known as “Safer Together.”
Shungu Kazadi, TikTok’s head of government relations and public policy for Francophone Africa, Kenya and Uganda, said the initiative will provide guidance to teens, parents and educators on how to manage online risks and develop safer digital habits.
Kazadi said the program includes digital ambassadors called “The Guardians” who create educational content to help young users recognize potential threats, protect 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, there is growing expectation that technology companies will do more to protect young users on social media platforms.
Valiant Ritchie, TikTok’s head of trust and safety for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said the company believes that online creativity and expression can best thrive in an environment built on trust and safety.
He pointed to the role African creators are playing on the platform, noting that many are using digital content to build their businesses and reach audiences beyond their home countries.
Ritchie said TikTok’s digital wellbeing programs have reached more than 700,000 parents, educators and youth in Kenya, and the company plans to expand its digital literacy and artificial intelligence education to more parts of Africa.
The platform also introduces 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 a focus on online safety is becoming increasingly important as Africa’s internet population continues to rapidly expand. The increasing adoption of smartphones has given millions of children access to digital platforms for the first time.
Nearly two-thirds of children around the world believe cyberbullying is on the rise, according to UN data, highlighting the need for stronger awareness and protection mechanisms.
Online recruitment rates in parts of eastern and southern Africa remain among the highest in the world, adding urgency to efforts to strengthen online child protection policies, regulators say.
Kenya’s Technology Envoy Philippe Tigo said digital platforms have become an important part of economic and cultural life across the continent, enabling African youth to learn, communicate and participate in the digital economy.
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However, he warned that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence technology could transform the online landscape and increase the spread of misinformation if not carefully managed.
Tigo said cooperation between governments, technology companies and civil society is essential to ensure digital innovation continues while maintaining strong protection measures for users.
With more than half of Africa’s population under the age of 25, policymakers say the results of these efforts could shape the continent’s digital future for decades.
Growing partnerships across Africa between governments, regulators and platforms like TikTok demonstrate a broader commitment to ensuring the digital world remains a safe and empowering space where children can learn, create and grow.
