TikTok Temporarily Shuts Down Late-Night LIVE Sessions in Nigeria After Surge in Explicit Content

TikTok has suspended its late-night LIVE feature in Nigeria. The platform took action after a sharp rise in explicit broadcasts. It said the move is temporary. It also confirmed that an investigation is underway. The company wants to keep the platform safe and protect its community. However, TikTok did not reveal when the feature will return.

The decision follows a major increase in adult content on Nigerian livestreams. Many users turned late-night LIVE into a space for sexual entertainment. Some people openly had sex on camera. Others performed erotic acts to attract viewers. Many creators did it for virtual gifts that could be converted into cash. The trend grew fast. Concerns grew even faster.

TikTok has been monitoring the situation. During its West Africa Safety Summit in Dakar, Senegal, the company shared new data. It issued warnings and demonetised more than 2.3 million LIVE sessions in the second quarter of 2025. It also penalised over one million creators for breaking LIVE monetisation rules. Nigeria ranked high on the list of violations. TikTok banned 49,512 Nigerian LIVE sessions during the same period. This made Nigeria one of the most affected enforcement markets.

With the new restrictions, Nigerians cannot host or watch late-night LIVE sessions. This is the period linked to most explicit content. TikTok said the measure is temporary. It also described it as part of a broader safety review. The company has applied similar restrictions in other regions facing the same problem. It hopes the pause will help stop misuse of the platform.

Reactions are mixed. Some users support the move. They believe the livestreams had become too sexual. One user said Nigerians often “abuse everything” and welcomed the crackdown. Others are frustrated. They fear the loss of income. One creator said TikTok has taken “atije atimu”, a Yoruba phrase meaning livelihood, away from them. The debate continues as TikTok works to control harmful livestreams and restore safer online spaces for its users.