Tiktok Halts Late-Night Live Streaming In Nigeria Amid Adult Content Concerns

TikTok's Decision to Freeze Late-Night LIVE

TikTok has hit the pause button on its late-night LIVE feature for Nigerian users following a surge in broadcasts showcasing adult content. The platform issued an in-app notification on Monday, revealing an ongoing investigation aimed at keeping the platform safe and the community secure.

The specifics on how long this shutdown will last remain undisclosed. However, the suspension comes in response to TikTok LIVE being transformed into a hub for explicit entertainment. Many hosts exploited the late-night hours to engage in sexual activities during live sessions, drawing thousands of viewers.

Impact and Enforcement

Some creators have been using the app's virtual gifting system to perform erotic acts for quick earnings, while others orchestrated coordinated adult shows. Addressing these violations, TikTok's West Africa Safety Summit in Dakar, Senegal, reported that over the second quarter of 2025, warnings and penalties were issued to more than 2.3 million LIVE sessions and over one million creators for breaching monetisation rules.

In the same timeframe, 49,512 Nigerian LIVE sessions were banned, highlighting the country's significant role in the platform's enforcement efforts. The current restriction prevents Nigerian users from hosting or viewing LIVE sessions during late-night hours, the timeframe most linked to the adult content surge. TikTok emphasizes the temporary nature of this measure, part of a comprehensive safety practice review in Nigeria.

Mixed Reactions from the Community

While some users support the crackdown, seeing it as essential to curb sexual exploitation, others worry about the economic repercussions for genuine creators relying on TikTok for income. One user expressed approval: "I think this is long overdue because Nigerians abuse almost everything. I expected this because tell me why I will go on somebody’s live stream, 1:00 a.m., and girls are showing their breasts, I just feel bad for those who live stream genuinely to make money."

“Why TikTok go ban live at night for Nigeria they don collect atije atimu for our hand oo,” lamented another user, highlighting the economic blow to legitimate creators.

The phrase "atije atimu" in Yoruba translates to livelihood, capturing the sentiment of those affected by this policy change.

Similar restrictions have been applied in other regions where livestreams violated TikTok's policies, suggesting a broader trend of tightening control over platform content.