By Melisa Mong’ina
As social media transforms the way Kenyan educators engage with students and the public, a new generation of teacher influencers is emerging on platforms like TikTok. These educators, driven by a passion for teaching and a flair for creativity, are using short, engaging videos to simplify complex concepts, share classroom insights, and inspire millions worldwide.
While they continue to grow their audiences, they also face growing challenges in the form of cyber threats, ranging from online harassment and identity theft to data breaches and privacy concerns. This piece explores how they are navigating those risks, the strategies they employ to stay safe, and the expert advice guiding them as they continue to share their knowledge with the world.
Benson Malata, a high school Swahili/Geography teacher at Musingu Boys High School in Kakamega County, shares his experiences as a teacher influencer with Talkafrica. According to him, his main aim in joining social media platforms such as TikTok was to be able to educate more learners apart from the ones he teaches at his school. He managed so because of the educative content he showcased.
“Apart from being a teacher, I’m also an influencer on social media platforms like TikTok. What drove me to become an influencer was the fact that I felt that I could be able to educate a large mass of students apart from the ones I teach now. These contents enabled me to gain new followers on Tiktok,” said Malata.
He further adds that his other main reason for joining Tiktok was due to the incident that took part early last year when Tiktok was to be shut down because some influencers were violating the platform’s law. To him, this incident brought to light and made him to start creating educative content. Making this choice became like a game changer for him because his content started going viral and added more followers.
“Secondly, I joined social media because of the issue about shutting TikTok down which happened early last year because some influencers were violating the law by posting bad content. I figured to myself that if all the professionals showcased their career work on this platform then many learners would be attracted and would wish to be like them in the future,” explained Malata.
Malata stated that he has been a victim of online harassment and this came during the period when teachers were striking he did content on TikTok urging teachers, KNUT, and KUPPET to withdraw from the strike and think about the welfare of the learners, especially those who are in form four, since they have been through a lot. His agenda was to focus on those learners because a lot of disrupting incidents have been taking place starting with the Corona pandemic to the GenZ protest.
“Yes, I experienced online harassment in August this year, when teachers were conducting the strike countrywide. I created content concerning the strike on Tiktk hoping that teachers, KNUT, and KUPPET will withhold it and think about the learners’ welfare, especially the form fours who have been through a lot starting from the Covid-19 pandemic to the recent GenZs protest which hindered their learning,” explained Malata.
Due to the post, he got trolled by known teachers who probably were facing hard times financially. They bullied him to the extent of creating a poster of him with false information. The poster brought a lot of concern from some of his fellow teachers, close friends, and also family members. Apart from that, he lost some of his followers but that didn’t put him down.
“I received a lot of backlash from know teachers. Some of them decided to unfollow me on TikTok while others abused me by going to the extent of coming up with a character defamation poster. This brought a lot of concerns from friends, family, and some of the followers but I chose to explain to them why the information was shared,” stated Malata.
Malata highlighted that he was courageous enough to deal with the particular bullies by educating them on the legal consequences they might face due to the act they displayed to the public, telling them that they could be charged with defamation or even serve a jail term. The strategy that he pulled brought blessings unto him and he began receiving invitations to schools to educate other teachers.
“I took time to educate the abusers, informing them of the legal consequences they might face because of character defamation. I also added that they may face jail terms or even be charged with defamation according to the law. I explained to them that it was my stand not to attend the strike and they understood,” shared Malata.
He shares that when protecting his personal and professional data, he tries to be relevant by posting content that is educative and can assist learners and other teachers. Further, he states that if a child has made a mistake in school such as coming with a phone, teachers should not take that chance to create content when the student is breaking the phone in front of other learners. Such a video may traumatize them when it goes viral.
“I usually protect my information by being relevant and creating content that is educative and informative to both students and my fellow teachers. When a student has made the mistake of maybe carrying a phone to school, teachers should not take advantage to record and post them smashing their phone in front of other students and teachers because it might traumatize him/ her,” emphasized Malata.
He advises teachers to use social media platforms such as Tiktok to educate the students, urging all professionals to use Tiktok in the right way, showcasing what their profession entails so that the learners can admire that particular profession they want to be when growing up. Religious leaders should also create content that helps in solving issues that affect families and the country.
“We should not forget that we are teachers and our profession is to educate students. As teachers, we should post contents that educates students because social media, particularly TikTok is one of the best ways to reach the public. We want to see professionals creating content that attracts young people so that they may follow in their professional footsteps. Religious leaders should also take part in creating content that will assist solve family issues,” urged Malata.
These cyber incidents do not only affect men; female teacher influencers are also impacted. Society often assumes that, as women, they are weak, vulnerable, and unable to defend themselves against any form of threat. However, this is far from true because many are strong and courageous in tackling cyber threats while creating content on TikTok. Tabby, known as the ‘Baddie Teacher’ for her sense of fashion, is a prime example of a resilient woman in the digital space.
Tabby Wothaya Gichohi, a high school teacher and also a known Tiktok influencer, narrates her experiences as a teacher influencer to Talkafrica. According to her she sometimes experienced some online harassment while creating content on TikTok and she handles them depending on her moods. She might ignore them or respond with the same energy.
“Of course, I have encountered online harassment.I think anyone who is in the online space has to some extent. I usually act depending on my mood. I sometimes ignore or when I’m feeling spicy then I’ll respond with the same energy. Call it fighting fire with fire. And other times I’ll let my online supporters aka my internet besties respond to the harassment,” said Gichohi.
She notes that she doesn’t take any safety measures to protect herself while doing content on TikTok, though she advises anyone willing to safeguard themselves on the platform to either turn off the comment session or censor certain words so that a person whose comment has those particular words will be automatically deleted.
“I personally don’t take any safety measures to protect myself but if one wants to then they have the option of censoring certain words so that a person whose comment has specific words will be automatically deleted. You can also turn off comments,” noted Gichohi.
She further adds that most teachers land themselves into trouble when they expose their learners on the platform without their parent’s or guardians’ consent, thus urging them to have written consent before exposing them.
“A lot of teachers expose their learners without consent from guardians or parents which can land them in legal problems as per the Data Protection Act of 2019. They should ensure they have written consent from parents first before exposing their learners,” urged Gichohi.
According to Gichohi, some of the experiences teachers get from learners and some parents make one develop thick skin thus bullying doesn’t become a threat to them because they have already been used to such experiences in school.
“As a teacher, you tend to develop a thick skin because you have heard it all from some learners, some parents, etc. So cyberbullying doesn’t faze you that much because you are used to it to some extent,” highlighted Tr. Tabby.
Challenges Teachers Face on TikTok
Dr. Grace Githaiga, a digital rights advocate and CEO of KICTANet shares the challenges these teachers face when creating content online. She explains that many educators share educational videos that may touch on sensitive or controversial topics, particularly around government policies. In such cases, Tiktok’s strict content guidelines can result in the removal or flagging of such posts, leaving educators with fewer opportunities to discuss important subjects that impact society.
“One of the key challenges that educator influencers face while using digital platforms like TikTok is content moderation. Certain platforms have strict guidelines that may lead to flagging down or removal of sensitive topics, or when the content is about critiquing government policies,” shared Dr. Githaiga.
Furthermore, the issue of copyright infringement is prevalent. Educators often create original content, including videos and tutorials. However, their content can be used by others without permission, leading to intellectual property disputes. Many creators are unaware of copyright laws, which can leave them vulnerable to infringement penalties if they unknowingly use protected materials, such as music or images, in their posts.
“Another challenge these teachers face is copyright infringement. It is common for many influencers to see their original works being shared without permission or acknowledgment to them. On the other hand, many influencers are unaware and ignorant of the copyright and intellectual property regulations and laws, and may also end up using other people’s works such as music, sounds, and photos for the content they would want to monetize, or a paid ad, leaving them vulnerable to hefty and costly intellectual property infringement penalties,” she added.
Privacy and data security are other key challenges mentioned by Dr. Grace Githaiga. While TikTok collects vast amounts of user data, users often lack control over who has access to this data or how it is used. For teachers who are public figures on the platform, the risk of unauthorized access to personal information or breaches in data security becomes a significant concern.
“Another huge challenge that digital influencers and content creators face and is a general issue, not specifically targeting any digital platform, is unfair profiling. In this case, it could be that algorithms push for posts of people that are of a certain complexion or body size, hence repressing and leaving out those content creators that do not fit that criteria,” she further explained.
Cyberbullying and harassment are also additional issues shared by her, particularly for female educators. Many content creators on TikTok face cyberbullying in the form of hate speech, insults, or threats. The rise of tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) has become a growing concern, with some educators forced to leave the platform due to the mental toll of harassment.
“Lastly, we have the issue of cyberbullying and online harassment. A lot of online content creators, especially women have been victims of what is known as Tech-Facilitated Gender Based Violence (TFGBV). Sadly, some content creators have been adversely affected such that they have to quit content creation or social media in general due to the shame, embarrassment, mental torture, or reputation damage,” highlighted Dr. Grace.
Kenya’s Legal Framework
According to Dr. Grace, Kenya has made significant strides in safeguarding digital rights with the introduction of the Data Protection Act and the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act. The Data Protection Act provides users with the right to privacy and control over their personal data.
“Most of the time, influencers and digital content creators face cyberbullying and online harassment. The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018 has key and detailed provisions on cyber harassment, which includes any forms of communication online that would cause harm to the recipient. The Act also provides stringent penalties for such offenses,” noted Dr. Githaiga.
For educators using TikTok, this law ensures that their personal information, such as contact details and location, cannot be shared or accessed without their consent. It also gives them the right to rectify inaccurate information or request the deletion of unnecessary data.
“Influencers and digital content creators are also often faced with challenges and risks of being hacked online; especially having their social media accounts hacked. The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act has provisions on this, and it is termed as unauthorized access,” added Dr. Grace.
The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act addresses issues of cyber harassment, including cyberbullying, defamation, and hacking. Educators experiencing harassment online can seek legal recourse under this law, which provides penalties for perpetrators, including fines and imprisonment.
However, gaps in legislation remain. While these laws offer protections, enforcement is often lacking. According to Dr. Grace, many educators, particularly women, do not report cases of cyberbullying due to fear, lack of awareness, or mistrust in the legal system. Additionally, the legal framework does not fully address issues like unfair algorithmic profiling, which may limit visibility for certain educators based on bias related to appearance, race, or body size.
“There are some gaps in these legislations such as the ambiguity and vagueness around the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act which may lead to repression of free speech online. Apart from that, enforcement of these laws is the biggest issue. For instance, not many cases of online harassment and cyberbullying especially for women are reported and dealt with to the very end until victims get recourse,” explained Dr, Githaiga.
Responding to Cyber Threats
Dr. Grace further explains that Kenya’s legal framework provides avenues for seeking justice, but educators must take the initiative to report these incidents.
“It is important for those attacked to report these incidents to platforms where the attack has happened. In addition, people need to report to the law and allow for enforcement of the law which will then point to the areas that need strengthening,” stated Dr. Grace.
Additionally, she says that organizations like KICTANet advocate for stronger online protections and frequently call for better enforcement of existing laws, emphasizing the importance of evidence to improve policy implementation.
“Organizations like KICTANet can suggest to authorities. However, we need evidence to demonstrate areas that need strengthening so that we deal with cyberbullying and curb harassment online,” she stated.
The Role of Multi-Stakeholder Advocacy on Cybersecurity
Dr. Grace shares that her organization plays a crucial role in advocating for digital rights and online safety, especially for educators and influencers. It also provides thought leadership in ICT policy, working to ensure that Kenyan laws align with the principles of free expression, privacy, and safety in the digital space.
“KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder organization that continues to catalyze ICTs and provide thought leadership in tech topics and policy advocacy. KICTANet has remained at the forefront of advocating for public interest in ICT policy. The network has also provided input that supports regulation that is balanced with the bill of rights as provided for in Kenya’s 2010 Constitution,” stated Dr. Githaiga.
Cyber security experts
Michael Chesang, a senior cybersecurity engineer at Cyber Guard Africa, confirms that there is an increase in cyber threats targeting educators and influencers in Kenya due to the growing digital presence of influencers and educators on platforms such as Tiktok, YouTube, and Spotify where they often share sensitive information making them easy prey to cyber-attacks.
“There’s been an increase in cyber threats targeting educators and influencers. This is mostly because there are more educators and influencers coming in the digital presence such as TikTok. Others are hosting podcasts on Spotify, and YouTube, and they really have a large audience. They often tend to share sensitive or personal information, making them easy targets,” Said Chesang.
He notes that the primary drivers of cyber threats or online harassment are financial gains and data exploitation, highlighting how attackers use lucrative information to ask for ransom through social engineering and that educators with the most sensitive student information are their prey.
“We have the financial gain, data exploitation, and also this new trend, where attackers basically get very lucrative information about an influencer or someone who commands a large audience on digital platforms, and use that information to get some money from them. There’s also data exploitation, where for instance, a teacher has a machine that holds like information about their students thus making them a big target,” shared Chesang.
Michael further stresses on the importance of digital literacy in preventing cyber attacks for teachers and influencers, explaining that basic security practices such as recognizing emails and managing passwords are crucial.
“Right now in Kenya, most teacher influencers are actually specialized in the technical skills, thus digital literacy plays a very crucial role in cyber security, especially for those who don’t have the needed skills and that solid understanding of basic security practices such as avoiding phishing emails which contain errors and might look unprofessional,” added Chesang.
He advises teachers and influencers against using the same password for all social media platforms and urges them to use multi-factor authentication, highlighting the importance of understanding privacy settings, avoiding malicious links, and implementing proper data hygiene.
“Some teachers or some people commonly use just one password for all the social media, or all the digital platforms and they might find their password leaked somewhere. And then we also have, the use of multi-factor authentication, which basically reduces overall vulnerability thus influencers who understand how to navigate the privacy settings, avoid suspicious links, and implement proper data hygiene are able to protect themselves and their audiences from these threats,” said Chesang.
He advises upcoming influencers to enable the two-factor authentication and use strong, unique passwords, emphasizing on the importance of regular privacy setting reviews. He also cautions them not to share their personal information, encouraging them to be mindful of the content they share with the public, and highlights the risks of intellectual property theft and the value of content copyright protection.
“Two-factor authentication is one of the best ways to actually secure your accounts, along with using strong, unique passwords,” said Chesang.“Be aware of phishing scams, and regular visit your privacy settings whereby you would want to control who can view, comment, or message you. As an influencer, avoid oversharing personal information and be cautious with contents that involve sensitive details like your location, family members, or upcoming plans because it will make you more vulnerable to attacks. If you’re hosting your own website, make sure it has proper corporate protection; otherwise, attackers could steal and misuse or plagiarize your intellectual property.
Micheal notes that many influencers are unaware of their rights and how to report cyber incidents, thus highlighting the slow responses from public officers when handling cyber incidents. He also mentions the lack of digital literacy for most influencers and educators.
“Enforcing the Data Protection Act of 2019 remains a challenge in Kenya, and many of the content creators don’t fully understand their rights or even how to report a cyber incident. The only people who really get their responses taken more seriously are the bigger organizations, where it will affect their business but as an individual, reporting on cyber incidents may take a lot longer. Additionally, there are digital literacy gaps, with many people unaware about how to protect themselves, or even know the existence of the Data Protection Act,” said Chesang.
He further suggests that policymakers should develop a more comprehensive framework for cybersecurity, recommending insensitive cybersecurity training for influencers and robust enforcement of existing laws. He advises tech companies to run awareness programs and offer resources for reporting and addressing cyber incidents, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between policymakers, tech companies, and civil societies to create a safer digital environment.
“In my opinion, we need more comprehensive frameworks like penalties for cybercrime, incentivize cybersecurity, training for creators, and robust enforcement of existing data protection laws to align,” added.“ It is important for tech companies and civil societies to run awareness campaigns on cyber threats and provide resources for reporting and addressing cyber incidents. I feel like they can collaborate with the government to do an awareness campaign aligning with our digital safety.”
