TikTok, in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), organized the Youth Safety Summit Pakistan on Thursday. This significant event aimed to raise awareness about online safety, enhance digital literacy, and foster collaboration among stakeholders to safeguard the digital well-being of Pakistani youth.
The summit brought together a diverse group of participants, including government officials, law enforcement partners, educators, parents, children, child protection NGOs, and industry experts. It served as a vital platform for dialogue and action on the pressing issue of youth safety in the digital space.
One of the key highlights of the event was a session dedicated to the Digital Hifazat initiative, a collaborative effort by TikTok and PTA to promote online safety and digital literacy among young Pakistanis. During the session, PTA presented its ongoing initiatives to ensure child online protection, showcasing efforts aimed at creating a safer digital environment for younger internet users.
TikTok highlighted its commitment to child safety through various features and tools designed to protect young users. These included the Family Pairing safety feature, Community Guidelines, and the Youth Safety Portal, which collectively empower parents, educators, and young users to build a safer online space.
The summit also featured a panel discussion titled “Enhancing Child Online Safety,” which underlined TikTok’s dedication to fostering a secure digital ecosystem. Experts from PTA, the National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), UNICEF Pakistan, and SAHIL participated in the discussion, offering diverse perspectives on child protection in the digital age.
In his address, Chairman PTA Major General (R) Hafeezur Rehman reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to ensuring a safe online environment for the youth. “This summit marks a significant step in our mission to secure a safe and inclusive digital environment for Pakistan’s youth,” he said. He emphasized PTA’s ongoing efforts to implement innovative measures that promote digital responsibility and child protection.
Emir Gelen, TikTok’s Director of Government Relations and Public Policy for the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Pakistan, and South Asia, also underscored the platform’s dedication to user safety. “At TikTok, we are committed to ensuring the online safety and well-being of our users, particularly children and youth. This summit represents an important milestone in creating a safer online environment in Pakistan,” he stated.
The event concluded on an exciting note with the announcement of winners for the #DigitalHifazat Contest, a competition aimed at raising awareness of digital safety. The contest, which invited creators to produce short videos on topics such as responsible social media use, combating online harassment, and preventing online fraud, received over 11,000 entries. Bilal Shahzad was declared the winner, while Ch Danish and Muhammad Usama Kiyani secured the first and second runner-up positions, respectively, for their creative contributions.
Building on the summit’s success, TikTok and PTA announced the expansion of their Public Policy Program, with a continued focus on the Digital Hifazat initiative. This expansion aims to deepen collaboration between TikTok and PTA, furthering efforts to enhance digital literacy and online safety across Pakistan.
This milestone summit reaffirmed TikTok and PTA’s shared commitment to protecting Pakistani youth online while fostering a culture of responsible digital engagement.
