TikTok held its inaugural Digital Well-being Summit, uniting policymakers, mental health experts, NGOs, and tech leaders from across Sub-Saharan Africa to champion community safety and emotional resilience on the platform.
Delegates from South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and beyond converged to drive open discussions around online safety, mental health, and digital literacy. The summit emphasized the importance of developing inclusive tools and fostering a balanced digital environment—particularly for young users navigating emotional and mental challenges online.
TikTok unveiled an enhanced suite of digital well-being tools and partnerships, including
- A rollout of in-app mental health helplines tailored to local communities
- An industry-first meditation feature for global users
- The expansion of its global $2.3 million Mental Health Education Fund to support initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa
Three organizations were named inaugural recipients of the fund’s regional expansion:
- South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG)
- Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative
- Kenya’s Mental360
These partners will receive funding and direct support from TikTok to produce culturally relevant, evidence-based mental health content aimed at dismantling stigma and encouraging open dialogue in African communities.
” We’re proud to introduce tools that not only support digital well-being but also empower our community—especially young users—with a safe, supportive space to explore and navigate complex emotions,” said Valiant Richey, TikTok’s Global Head of Trust and Safety Outreach and Partnerships.
The summit also spotlighted the ongoing success of TikTok’s #MentalHealthMatters campaign and introduced a new group of Mental Health Ambassadors—verified experts from the WHO Fides Network—including:
- Sanam Naran (South Africa)
- Dr Claire Kinuthia (Kenya)
- Doctor Wales (Nigeria)
- Doctor Siya (South Africa)
South Africa’s Minister of Basic Education, Hon. Siviwe Gwarube, praised the collaboration, saying, “We commend the private sector’s efforts to foster digital literacy and create a safer online environment for all. Such efforts reflect the government and the private sector’s collective responsibility to inspire creativity, empower communities and connect young people to the digital world.”
Yusuf Akoojee, Marketing Director at Spectra, echoed this sentiment: “Our partnership with TikTok reflects a shared vision to create secure, innovative digital environments that prioritize mental health and online safety.”
