In line with its commitment to cultivating a safe and responsible digital environment, TikTok launched the second edition of its “Family Academy” initiative in collaboration with Welmnt, a leading mental health and family well-being organization. Hosted at the International School of Choueifat (ISC) in 6th of October City, the event aims to boost digital safety awareness among families and teens and actively combat cyberbullying by promoting a more conscious and responsible digital environment, building on the success of the first edition.
The event, which was attended by parents, teachers, and media representatives, focused on creating a supportive online environment and featured an interactive workshop designed to equip attendees with the knowledge to understand and address digital challenges with confidence. This included a practical workshop session led by Dr. Walaa El Gamal, who holds a Ph.D. in Mental Health & Psychotherapy, focusing on providing practical skills for dealing with cyberbullying and improving adolescent mental well-being.
The program also included a panel discussion moderated by Hazem Abdelghany, CEO & Founder of Welmnt; Leila El Meligy, Psychologist at ISC; Dr. Walaa El Gamal; and Raghdah Alazab, Head of Communications at TikTok MENA. The experts discussed joint solutions to strengthen digital security and protect youth from cyberbullying.
Family Academy underscored the shared responsibility between the platforms, educators, experts and parents as active partners in safeguarding their youth from online risks by showing them how to use TikTok’s safety features to encourage mutual understanding and positive family interactions. It also stressed the value of maintaining daily, open conversations with teenagers to support their mental well-being and reinforce family connections.
Raghdah Alazab, Head of Communications at TikTok MENA, commented: “We believe that building a safe and responsible digital environment begins with awareness and cooperation. Through initiatives like Family Academy, we empower families with the necessary tools and knowledge to understand and confidently navigate digital challenges, creating safe digital experiences that promote creativity, positive communication, and the mental well-being of their youth.”
From his side, Hazem Abdelghany, CEO and Founder of Welmnt, stated, “Cyberbullying and harmful online behaviour are not just virtual incidents on a screen; they have real, deep impacts on teenagers’ mental health and self-esteem. The Family Academy aims to provide parents and teachers with practical tools and strategies to address these issues, turning them into chances to build confidence and mutual understanding within families, and ultimately creating a safe digital environment that supports growth and creativity.”
Echoing this perspective, Liala El Meligy, Psychologist at the International School of Choueifat, commented, “Cyberbullying has become one of the most serious challenges facing teenagers today. The screen can give some individuals a misleading sense of boldness, prompting them to hurt others without realizing the psychological harm they cause. Online experiences can severely undermine children’s self-confidence and strain their relationships with their families. Keeping an open, daily dialogue and teaching teenagers how to deal with such situations without pressure or authoritarianism helps them feel protected and understood, while easing feelings of fear and isolation.”
TikTok has reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring a safe digital environment for all users, especially teenagers. To this end, the platform uses a comprehensive guidelines that integrates advanced technological safeguards, human moderation, and community education initiatives. Users under 13 are not allowed to use TikTok, and any account found to have false age information is promptly removed. For users aged 13 to 15, TikTok provides a more restricted experience that limits their ability to send or receive private messages and prevents them from going live, ensuring a suitable and secure environment that promotes learning, creativity, and constructive engagement.
The platform also offers features that encourage balanced and healthy digital habits, such as Time Away, Wind Down Mode, and Screen Time Management, helping teenagers align their use of the app with their offline lives. Through Family Pairing, parents and children can jointly set privacy controls and manage screen time, strengthening open communication and trust within the household.
TikTok further enables teenagers to explore academic interests and build skills through content communities like #LearnOnTikTok and #BookTok. This transforms the platform into a multidimensional space that combines creativity, knowledge-sharing, and responsible digital conduct.
The collaboration between TikTok, Welmnt, and the International School of Choueifat forms an integrated model that brings together psychological, educators and technical support. Welmnt supplies parents with educational resources to reinforce their children’s self-confidence, while TikTok provides the technical framework through its digital well-being tools and safety features that enable positive control over content and online experiences.
