TikTok’s Cynical Attempt to Hide its Dark Underbelly
In a move that has raised more questions than answers, TikTok has launched a safety advisory council for sub-Saharan Africa, an move that many are calling a smokescreen to distract from its own complicity in promoting harmful content.
The newly formed council, comprising a group of handpicked "experts" from across the continent, claims to be dedicated to promoting safety and security on the platform. But few are convinced that this is more than just a PR stunt.
The council’s members include a mix of academics, content creators, and NGO representatives, but many of whom have questionable track records when it comes to addressing online safety. Is this a deliberate attempt to appease critics while allowing harmful content to continue to flourish?
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has been accused of prioritizing profits over safety, and its track record in addressing online safety concerns is woefully inadequate. The fact that it has partnered with other tech giants, Meta and Google, to sign a cooperation agreement with the Electoral Commission of South Africa, only serves to further erode trust.
The #SaferTogether campaign, touted as a user education initiative, is little more than a public relations exercise designed to pacify critics while the company continues to rake in profits from its popular platform.
The real question is: what is TikTok hiding? How can a company that has profited from the spread of misinformation, and has been accused of promoting hate speech and harmful content, suddenly care about online safety?
It seems that TikTok’s true motivation is to maintain its grip on the continent’s youth, rather than genuinely committed to promoting online safety. The real crisis is not the lack of safety measures on TikTok, but the company’s complicity in perpetuating harmful content that has real-world consequences.
Mark my words: this is just another example of corporate spin designed to distract from the real issues. The truth will come out, and when it does, TikTok will be left holding the bag.
