Digital Literacy Training in Nepal Schools by TikTok

Digital Literacy Campaign in Nepal Schools by TikTok

TikTok has launched a digital literacy campaign targeting children in 14 schools across seven districts in Nepal's Bagmati, Gandaki, and Koshi provinces. This initiative, conducted in collaboration with the Nepal government, is implemented by the 'Child Safe Net' organization, which offers social media awareness training for platforms like Facebook, TikTok, X, Instagram, Viber, and WhatsApp.

The government had stipulated that TikTok must support digital security, literacy, and public education. After agreeing to these conditions, TikTok lifted its ban on Bhadra 6 last year. Following this agreement, Child Safe Net organized a workshop in Lalitpur for 40 individuals from 15 schools to provide digital literacy training. According to Child Safe Net President Anil Raghuvanshi, the campaign will run until December 2025, focusing on children in selected districts.

Targeted Districts and Objectives

The campaign will cover schools in the following districts:

1. Bagmati: Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur

2. Gandaki: Tanahun, Kaski

3. Koshi: Sunsari, Morang

These districts were chosen based on their population density and the number of social media users. The pilot project aims to raise awareness among children, parents, and teachers about safe social media usage.

President Raghuvanshi highlighted the risks of social media misuse, including sexual exploitation, hate speech, child marriage, trafficking, and data breaches. He stated, "Many people use social media without understanding its risks. Schools, families, and governments need to provide preventive education. We aim to address these challenges through training and workshops and teach users how to stay safe."

Addressing Digital Risks

The campaign will also tackle the adverse effects of violent video games like PUBG and Free Fire on children’s mental health. Teachers, parents, and children will be trained in managing these issues. Furthermore, participants will learn about reporting social media misuse effectively.

TikTok has implemented strict rules to protect children:

• No TikTok accounts for children under 13 years.

• No direct messaging for users under 16 years old.

• No TikTok Live for users under 18 years.

TikTok uses AI to regulate hate speech and reportedly removes over 2 million hateful videos daily worldwide.

This initiative ensures that Nepal's children, educators, and parents are better equipped to navigate the digital landscape responsibly.