PTA & TikTok co-host ‘Youth Safety Summit Pakistan’

On November 21, 2024, TikTok, in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), hosted ‘Youth Safety Summit Pakistan’.

The aim was to enhance awareness about online safety and promote digital literacy among young people.

The summit served as an important platform to discuss strategies for safeguarding Pakistani youth in the digital landscape.

One of the key highlights of ‘Youth Safety Summit Pakistan’ was the presentation of the ‘Digital Hifazat’ initiative.

This comes in response to growing concerns over online privacy and ethics, particularly following incidents involving prominent TikTokers.

The PTA also shared insights into its ongoing initiatives focused on child online protection, emphasising the importance of creating a secure digital environment.

Throughout the event, several sessions provided valuable information on TikTok’s commitment to child safety.

These included discussions on safety features available on the platform, such as Family Pairing, Community Guidelines, and the Youth Safety Portal.

These tools are designed to empower parents, educators, and young users to navigate the digital world safely.

A panel discussion titled ‘Enhancing Child Online Safety’ featured representatives from various organisations, including PTA, CERT, UNICEF Pakistan, and SAHIL.

The panellists offered diverse insights into child protection and the collective responsibility of stakeholders in ensuring a safe online experience for youth.

During the summit, Major General (R) Hafeezur Rehman, Chairman of the PTA, emphasised the authority’s commitment to developing a secure online ecosystem.

He said: “This summit marks a significant step in our mission to secure a safe and inclusive digital environment for Pakistan’s youth.”

Emir Gelen, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy at TikTok for Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Pakistan, and South Asia, echoed this sentiment:

“We are committed to ensuring the online safety and well-being of our users, particularly children and youth.

“This summit is an important step towards creating a safer online environment in Pakistan.”

The Youth Safety Summit concluded with the announcement of the winners of the #DigitalHifazat Contest.

This competition, announced in October 2024, was aimed at raising awareness about digital safety among Pakistani youth.

The contest invited creators to submit videos focusing on responsible social media use, combating online harassment, preventing online fraud, and promoting youth safety.

Out of 11,000 entries, Bilal Shahzad emerged as the winner, while Ch Danish and Muhammad Usama Kiyani were recognised as the runners-up.

Recently, TikTok took proactive measures by removing over 30.7 million videos from its platform in Pakistan to bolster content moderation.