Safer Internet Day 2020: TikTok Reasserts Commitment to Online Safety
The in-app challenge- called #MeraInternet, invites users to share their ideas on how they can become responsible digital citizens and contribute to a positive online environment.
TikTok, on Tuesday, rolled out an in-app safety campaign #MeraInternet to celebrate the Safer Internet Day (SID) 2020. In celebration of Safer Internet Day, which has become a landmark event in approximately 140 countries worldwide, TikTok, a leading destination for short-form mobile video with global offices including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo, on Tuesday announced several in-app initiatives to promote a safe and responsible in-app environment. Interestingly, TikTok is also encouraging users to create short videos on safe internet and take a pledge to do their bit towards this goal.
The in-app challenge- called #MeraInternet, invites users to share their ideas on how they can become responsible digital citizens and contribute to a positive online environment. TikTok also launched an in-app quiz to equip users with online safety tips. The quiz highlights topics of not sharing account details, phishing awareness，as well as the best practices of utilizing TikTok safety settings to take control of their online presence and wellness.
Additionally, in association with NASSCOM Foundation, TikTok is inviting users to take a pledge for a safer and happier online environment. To further drive the conversation among industry leaders, TikTok also partnered FICCI to deliberate on ways in which government, academia and civil society can come together. And the idea is to let these three join hands with the common goal of moving together for a better Internet.
Earlier this year, TikTok had come up with a comprehensive and expanded publication of the Community Guidelines that reflect the driving philosophy. It also provided a platform for creative self-expression while remaining safe, diverse, and authentic and also defined a common code of conduct on the platform. Significantly, TikTok's guidelines help users understand exactly when and why there are some restrictions on what is or isn't allowed on the app.
TikTok's top priority is to promote a safe and positive app environment. It has a number of measures in place today to protect users against misuse. These include in-app reporting, privacy settings, filters, and moderation. TikTok’s Safety Centre incorporates all the tools and tips about safety and wellbeing features and measures and it offers further detailed content.
In 2019, TikTok had launched #SafeHumSafeInternet – an India-specific campaign as part of its global #BetterMeBetterInternet initiative. TikTok users based out of India participated in the #SafeHumSafeInternet online challenge. They did so by applying customized stickers that encouraged the adoption of positive online habits. For the record, the #SafeHumSafeInternet garnered over 1 billion video views.
About Safer Internet Day: Started as an initiative of the EU SafeBorders project in 2004 and taken up by the Insafe network of Safer Internet Centres in Europe in 2005, Safer Internet Day has, over the years, become a landmark event in the global online safety calendar and is now celebrated in almost 140 countries worldwide. It offers an opportunity to highlight the positive uses of technology. It also offers an opportunity to explore the role we play in helping create a better and safer online community. It is to call upon young people, parents, teachers, caregivers, law enforcement officials, policymakers, social workers, companies, and others, to come together in creating a better internet.
