TikTok Curbs Late-Night Streaming in Nigeria

TikTok has temporarily restricted its LIVE broadcasting feature during late-night hours in Nigeria. This decision follows reports of a spike in explicit content.

The platform cited an increase in broadcasts featuring sexual acts, which violate community safety standards.

Details of the Restriction

On Sunday at midnight, TikTok sent a system notification to eligible creators. These are users with at least 1,000 followers, the benchmark for hosting live sessions. The notice announced a temporary limit on late-night broadcasts.

According to the platform, this is part of an internal investigation. The goal is to ensure the platform remains safe for the community.

Consequently, the LIVE feature became inaccessible between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM. Affected accounts displayed a “No Access” label. Additionally, the restriction prevented Nigerian users from viewing live broadcasts from other countries.

Impact on Local Creators

The overnight suspension disrupted many Nigerian streamers. Nighttime is typically a peak period for hosting interactive sessions and matches. These segments often drive high viewer engagement and virtual gifting.

Despite the halt in activities, creators received some good news. They confirmed that their financial interests remained secure.

Wallet balances and previous earnings were left intact. By Monday morning, TikTok restored access to the feature, although speculation about the crackdown continues on social media.

Safety Statistics and Moderation

This move comes weeks after TikTok released updated safety data for West Africa. During a summit in Dakar, Senegal, the company highlighted its struggle with policy violations in the region.

Data from the second quarter of 2025 revealed the following for Nigeria:

• 49,512 LIVE sessions were banned for violating monetization guidelines.
• 3.7 million videos were removed between April and June for breaching Community Guidelines.
• 98.7% of these videos were taken down before receiving a single view.

Globally, the platform took action against over 2.3 million live sessions during the same period.

How TikTok LIVE Works

TikTok LIVE differs from standard pre-recorded videos. It allows users to broadcast in real-time. This feature fosters direct interaction with audiences through comments and virtual gifts.

To access this feature, users generally need a minimum of 1,000 followers. They must be at least 16 years old to host a stream. However, the age requirement rises to 18 for those wishing to earn money.