TikTok, the world's leading video and entertainment platform, hosted an insightful panel discussion on May 30, delving into the important topics of online safety and digital well-being for teens. The event provided valuable insights into navigating the digital world safely while fostering a thriving community where creativity knows no limits.
The dynamic discussion, featuring panelists Kevin Morgan, Head of Trust and Safety at TikTok Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Nadia Gamal El-Din, Founder and CEO of “Rahet Baly” Company, the leading motherhood support platform in the MENA region, revolved around the precautions that users and digital platforms can take to protect young users and how TikTok is leading the way in creating a secure and uplifting online environment.
During the safety panel, TikTok showcased its dedication to user safety, particularly for teenagers, discussing the common signs that a teen may be experiencing online harassment or cyberbullying and how TikTok’s Family Pairing feature promotes open communication between parents and teens and strengthens the parent-child relationship.
The panel also delved into details of how the platform's default weekly digital well-being prompts for younger members encouraged them to think more mindfully about developing positive digital habits, and how it maintains transparency with users and relevant stakeholders. The discussion highlighted TikTok's continuous efforts to nurture its growing community and promote a safe and positive environment for teens and their parents.
The panelists explored various topics, including the important role parents play in supervising their teens' online activities, promoting open dialogue between parents and teens about safe digital practices, and effective strategies for educating teenagers on responsible online behavior. Engaging questions addressed issues such as identifying signs of online harassment or cyberbullying among teenagers.
The event also shed light on TikTok's safety initiatives and campaigns in Egypt, including collaboration with Safe Egypt, to launch initiatives that advance awareness within the sphere of digital safety. In addition to the Safety campaigns TikTok launched addressing detrimental internet behaviors, exemplified by the impactful "Mind the Trend" campaign. This campaign emphasizes the importance of individual and collective responsibility toward safeguarding the well-being of teenagers in the digital realm. Furthermore, the platform has forged collaborations with influential figures through the Safety Ambassadors program to amplify awareness about responsible internet usage. Renowned stars Ahmed Dawood and Ola Roshdy actively participated in the #FamilyFirst campaign, spotlighting TikTok's Family Pairing feature, which empowers parents to tailor safety settings to their specific requirements. To foster a safe online environment and promote conscientious content sharing, TikTok has also joined forces with UNICEF for the "Practice The Pause" campaign.
“User safety is a top priority for our platform and is fundamental to providing a safe and enjoyable experience. TikTok consistently invests in developing innovative policies and tools to help maintain the safety of users of all ages and create a safe and nurturing space for creativity and freedom of expression,” said Kevin Morgan, Head of Trust and Safety at TikTok Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “TikTok has implemented stringent measures to address inappropriate content and as you can see in our transparency reports which is being issued on quarterly basis, we remove millions of videos in the MENA region and will continue to innovate and listen to local experts and the local community unity in order to make TikTok the safest and most enjoyable experience”
Nadia Gamal El-Din, Founder and CEO of “Rahet Bally” Company, said: “The collaboration with TikTok aims to raise awareness about the importance of digital safety and protecting children in the evolving digital world. Therefore, we are committed to participating in initiatives that empower parents with knowledge on how to protect their teens online, increasing parental awareness on how to safeguard them, and providing them with the necessary tools and resources. Rahet Bally has partnered with TikTok in several initiatives, including the #MindTheTrend campaign and Family First campaign.”
As per a survey commissioned by Rahet Bally, over 89% of mothers particpated in the survey express concerns about their teenagers encountering inappropriate content, while more than 67% harbor worries about potential harassment. Bullying incidents and risky challenges also rank high among their apprehensions. However, TikTok has been proactive in addressing these concerns by implementing robust measures. The platform offers a range of tools that empower parents to restrict content and exercise control over their children's digital experience. The survey further highlights that 91% of mothers establish rules for their teenagers' use of digital platforms, an area that TikTok prioritizes through ongoing enhancements, including the Family Pairing feature. This feature enables parents to effectively manage content settings and privacy measures, such as screen time management, interaction controls, and the ability to disable direct messaging. A significant 72% of participants emphasized the pivotal role of digital safety videos in raising awareness among teenagers and children regarding responsible online practices.
TikTok reinforced its commitment to making the platform a safe place for teens to express their creativity, with a focus on its Transparency Reports that provide insights into community guidelines enforcement, information and content removal requests, privacy, and more.
TikTok believes that everyone deserves to feel safe online, and that feeling safe is key to unlocking imagination and creative expression. That's why the platform continues its work to build a safe, inclusive, and authentic home for its global community, to help people stay in control as they express their creativity, make meaningful connections, and enjoy culture-defining entertainment.
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