TikTok implemented a temporary, late-night restriction on its LIVE feature for users in Nigeria over the weekend, citing an ongoing safety investigation aimed at protecting its community.
At midnight Nigerian time on Sunday, active users received a system notification stating, “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 restriction rendered all LIVE broadcasts inaccessible between 11 pm and 5 am, with affected accounts displaying a “No Access” label. The move also prevented Nigerian creators from viewing LIVE broadcasts hosted in other countries.
The sudden, nationwide restriction has since sparked widespread discussion and speculation across social media, particularly because night-time hours are typically peak periods for Nigerian streamers who host interactive sessions, matches, and entertainment segments that attract viewers and virtual gifts. Access to the LIVE feature was fully restored by Monday morning.
Recent Safety Data
This development comes weeks after TikTok released updated safety statistics for West Africa during its Safety Summit in Dakar, Senegal. The data revealed a high volume of policy violations within the region.
In the second quarter of 2025:
- Globally, TikTok took action against 2,321,813 LIVE sessions and 1,040,356 LIVE creators for violating its LIVE Monetisation guidelines.
- In Nigeria alone, 49,512 LIVE sessions were banned during the same period.
Furthermore, between April and June 2025, TikTok reported removing 3,780,426 videos in Nigeria for breaching Community Guidelines, with 98.7% removed before any views and 91.9% taken down within 24 hours.
TikTok Live is a crucial in-app feature that allows users to broadcast in real-time, facilitating direct engagement with viewers through comments and virtual gifts, unlike pre-recorded videos. General requirements to go live include having over 1,000 followers and being at least 16 years old (18 to earn money).
