TikTok has imposed a temporary ban on late-night LIVE streaming in Nigeria as the platform steps up efforts to curb increasing cases of sexual misconduct during broadcasts.
In a brief notice issued on Sunday, the company announced: “TikTok LIVE Update in Nigeria — We’re temporarily limiting LIVE late at night in Nigeria as part of our investigation to ensure our platform remains safe and our community stays protected.”
The move comes after months of concerns about Nigerian creators hosting late-night streams where viewers are encouraged to engage in sexually explicit acts.
Numerous incidents have shown hosts urging participants to remove their clothes or perform lewd actions, often in exchange for gifts or monetary rewards.
TikTok’s decision also aligns with new enforcement figures disclosed at the platform’s West Africa Safety Summit in Dakar, Senegal.
According to the company, more than 2.3 million LIVE sessions and over one million creators received warnings or demonetization penalties in the second quarter of 2025 for breaking LIVE monetization rules.
During the same period, TikTok banned 49,512 Nigerian LIVE sessions, making Nigeria one of its highest-enforcement markets globally.
With this new restriction, Nigerian users will not be able to host or watch LIVE sessions late at night—hours TikTok identifies as the peak period for policy-violating content.
The company stressed that the ban is temporary and part of a broader review of its safety practices in the country.
TikTok noted that similar restrictions have been implemented in other regions experiencing spikes in harmful livestream behaviour.
Reactions among users have been divided. While some praise the move as necessary to discourage inappropriate content, others argue that it unfairly affects creators who depend on nighttime traffic for income.
Some also believe the platform continues to maltreat African creators, citing long-standing concerns over pay disparities and stricter content regulation.
It remains unclear what the long-term impact of the late-night LIVE ban will be, but TikTok maintains that the measure is part of its ongoing effort to strengthen community safety in Nigeria.
