16 ACTS BY THE SMILE OUTREACH
Unmasking Digital Grooming Tactics: Protecting Our Youth and Igniting Digital Safety Conversations Across Africa
What is 16 Acts?
16 Acts is The Smile Outreach’s annual digital campaign commemorating the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence a season where we educate, equip, and mobilize changemakers across Africa to challenge violence in all its forms.
Each year, we spotlight 16 harmful behaviours that perpetuate violence and match them with 16 transformative actions to create safer communities. Through this campaign, we don’t just raise awareness ,we name the problem, provide practical tools, and inspire collective action.
The campaign includes:
A Two-Part Publication
16 Acts of Digital Grooming That Must End 16 Actions to End Digital Grooming
A Social Media Toolkit
Co-branded assets, blurbs, and graphics to help partners, youth leaders, and organizations amplify the message.
A Daily Digital Campaign
16 days of storytelling, education, and calls to action across platforms — rallying voices from schools, homes, movements, and communities.
This isn’t just a campaign, this is a platform for youth agency, survivor-centered advocacy, and Africa-rooted solutions to violence online and offline.
Unmasking Digital Grooming: The 2025 Agenda
This year’s 16 Acts campaign highlights the covert practices of digital grooming, subtle actions that normalize control, coercion, and manipulation in virtual environments.
To assist youth, parents, and educators in identifying early warning indicators of digital grooming and online abuse, each act serves as a crucial red flag.
By recognizing and labeling these behaviors, we enable communities to take preventative measures, advance digital safety, and cultivate respectful, conscious, and promote safer, more respectful online interactions. Together, we transform silence into strength and awareness into action.
GET THE TWO-PART PUBLICATION
The 16 Acts Against Digital Grooming is a two-part publication designed to spark awareness, dialogue, and action against digital grooming and online gender-based violence.
The first part, “16 Acts of Digital Grooming That Must End”, exposes the subtle patterns and manipulative tactics used in digital grooming, helping users identify red flags early.
The second part, “16 Actions to End Digital Grooming”, empowers individuals and organisations with actionable steps to challenge these harmful behaviours, create safer online spaces, and support survivors.
Get Involved; How To Join The Campaign
Whether you’re ready to speak out, volunteer, or donate, there’s a way for everyone to contribute.
SIGN UP:
To join the campaign and become a voice against violence. Simply sign up by filling this form – Join Now!
CHECK YOUR EMAIL:
As soon as you are signed up, check your email for the links to the resources. You will find the 16 acts PDF and also links to social media posts you can use to share online.
SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Post on social media, join conversations, and use our campaign hashtag #16ActsAgainstViolence to spread the word.
16 Actions To End Digital Grooming
16 Acts of Digital Grooming That Must End
Other Ways You Can Get Involved
Volunteer with Us
Lend your skills and time. Help organize local events or volunteer for educational outreach programs.
Donate
Every donation makes a difference. Your support allows us to provide resources for survivors and continue our mission of advocacy and education.
Our work would not be possible without the contributions of our partners. Thank you for supporting our mission to create a safer world for all.
