TikTok has halted the use of its late-night LIVE option in Nigeria after a rise in livestreams featuring explicit sexual behaviour, including instances where users carried out real-time sexual acts before large online viewers.
The restriction was announced to Nigerian users on Monday through an in-app system alert, with the company stating it was undertaking a safety review to “ensure the platform remains safe and our community stays protected.” TikTok did not clarify how long the suspension will last.
Internal enforcement figures disclosed at TikTok’s West Africa Safety Summit in Dakar, Senegal, indicate the platform has faced growing abuse of its LIVE tool in Nigeria. The company revealed that in the second quarter of 2025 alone, it issued warnings and removed monetisation from more than 2.3 million LIVE broadcasts and sanctioned over one million creators for breaching monetisation policies.
Nigeria accounted for 49,512 deactivated LIVE sessions during the quarter — ranking among the highest enforcement totals in the region.
In recent months, late-night TikTok LIVE streams in Nigeria became increasingly associated with sexually explicit displays. Some creators carried out erotic performances in exchange for virtual gifts, while others arranged coordinated adult-themed shows designed to earn rapid payouts through the platform’s gifting structure.
The temporary nighttime shutdown now blocks users in Nigeria from hosting or watching LIVE streams during the hours most linked to the circulation of sexual material. TikTok said the action is part of a wider review of its safety measures in the country, noting that comparable restrictions have been imposed in other markets dealing with surges in policy breaches.
The company has yet to provide a schedule for reinstating late-night LIVE access as its inquiry continues.
