Tanzanian stars to champion anti-cyberbullying campaign

The announcement was made at a press conference in the capital Dar es Salaam by the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority's Consumer Consultative Council (TCRA-CCC) yesterday. The body is tasked with protecting the rights of all users and will use the campaign to target young people by visiting schools in Dar es Salaam.

“This is not our first campaign, but we decided to involve celebrities to increase the impact of our programme," TCRA-CCC head Mary Shao Msuya said.

One of the biggest issues that the campaign will try to address is cyberbullying, which has been on the rise in East Africa. In May this year Kenyan gospel musician Jimmy Gait launched an anti-cyberbullying campaign that stemmed from his own experience at the hands of online trolls. This week, Kenyan TV personality Kobi Kihara deleted her social media accounts after she was caught plagiarising photos that she passed off as her own. This resulted in a weekend of intense trolling that led to her exit from the social media space.

Other celebrities who have received similar treatment from social media users include Akothee, Sauti Sol, Bebe Cool, Sheebah Karungi, Leila Kayondo, Diamond Platnumz and Shilole.

Although on the surface it may appear as harmless fun, trolling adversely affects an artist’s brand and earning ability. Tanzania, unlike many other countries, has strict laws that regulate content and penalise abusive language on social media.

“I have received several pleas to intervene when people are arrested for abusing me on social media," Mobetto said. "It's not my desire to see young people suffer but the law must be followed. Social media is a great tool. I have used it to earn a living and I hope I can teach our youth how to use it productively.”

The campaign also encourages opinion shapers to use their influence on social media constructively.

“Our art is audio-visual so the digital space is a great tool for us," bongo flava star Barnaba Classic said. "However, we must always think about the next generation. Kids watch everything we do so we must be good role models."