TikTok Brings Online Safety Dialogue To IIUM With Surf's Up 2025
Surf's Up hits IIUM as TikTok ramps up its digital safety efforts.
IIUM students have pledged to #ThinkTwice at TikTok's Surf's Up digital literacy summit, advocating for an empowered, responsible, and positive online community.
TikTok's mission to empower young Malaysians with digital smarts reached the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM). Nearly 150 students from IIUM's World Debate and Oratory Centre (IWON) joined the third edition of Surf's Up: Deputies of Digital Literacy Summit and pledged their support to the platform's #ThinkTwice online safety campaign.
Image via TikTok
The latest Surf's Up event focused on critical conversations around online safety and personal responsibility
Co-hosted with the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF) and IIUM's World Debate and Oratory Centre (IWON), the event featured a student-led debate and a thought-provoking panel discussion, all centered on making the internet a safer, smarter space for everyone.
Image via TikTok
Students took the stage to argue both sides of online safety and content responsibility
A debate session guided by IWON member Nisrina Nabihah featured two teams of students discussing the responsibility of keeping online spaces safe, weighing whether it should fall on users or platforms.
To keep the session interactive and engaging, the audience was given the opportunity to vote for the winning team.
Image via TikTok
Waskito Jati, TikTok's Outreach and Partnerships Manager, emphasised that today's youth play a key role in shaping digital culture
"Today's youth play an essential role in shaping our digital landscape. Through Surf's Up, TikTok aims to empower young people to take control of their online experience, be mindful about the content they post and share, and help create an online community that values positivity, inclusivity, and safety.
"We are inspired to see IIUM students actively engage in learning sessions and thoughtful discussions and we look forward to seeing more students take on the role of deputies of digital literacy," he added.
The panel discussion pushed the conversation even further
Following the debate, a panel of speakers including Waskito, Mediha Mahmood, and former lawyer Reina Lum, and moderator Sheahnee Iman Lee shared their views on how users and platforms both shape digital spaces.
The discussion encouraged students to think about the long-term impact of their posts and the value of conscious content creation.
Image via TikTok
CMCF CEO Mediha Mahmood also highlighted the need for a culture of self-regulation and critical thinking
"Online safety isn't just about rules, it's about conversations, critical thinking, and collective action. The Content Forum is proud to partner with TikTok on Surf's Up to create spaces where young people can question, engage, and learn. Initiatives like this help nurture a culture of self-regulation and digital responsibility.
"What's especially powerful is seeing students debate and explore different viewpoints. It sharpens their thinking, opens minds, and reminds us all that the ability to see both sides is essential in navigating today's digital landscape with confidence and conscience," she said.
This event marked the third time TikTok has successfully organised the Surf's Up campus event in Malaysia
Previous sessions were held at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and University of Nottingham Malaysia in 2024.
With each stop, the focus remains the same which is to help young Malaysians become responsible digital citizens who can think twice before posting and to speak up for safer online spaces.
Image via TikTok
