TikTok has temporarily blocked access to its LIVE feature for Nigerian users during late-night hours, citing safety concerns.
The restriction, which lasted from 11pm to 5am on Sunday, left creators unable to stream or view broadcasts, sparking widespread speculation across social media.
At midnight, the platform sent a system notification: “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.”
Only accounts with at least 1,000 followers — the minimum requirement to host LIVE — received the notice. Several confirmed that all LIVE activities had been halted overnight.
Balances and previous earnings from LIVE gifting remained intact, easing fears of financial loss. By Monday morning, access was restored, but the disruption raised questions about TikTok’s moderation strategy and its impact on Nigeria’s vibrant streaming community.
Safety Statistics and Context
Night-time hours are peak periods for Nigerian streamers, who host football match reactions, entertainment shows, and interactive sessions that attract viewers and virtual gifts.
Restricting LIVE during these hours cut off a major source of engagement and income.
The move comes weeks after TikTok’s West Africa Safety Summit in Dakar, Senegal. The company revealed that in the second quarter of 2025, it acted against 2,321,813 LIVE sessions and 1,040,356 creators globally for violating monetisation rules.
In Nigeria alone, 49,512 LIVE sessions were banned.
TikTok also reported removing 3,780,426 videos in Nigeria between April and June 2025 for breaching Community Guidelines, with 98.7% taken down before being viewed and 91.9% removed within 24 hours.
TikTok LIVE allows creators to broadcast in real time, interact with viewers, and earn through virtual gifts. For many Nigerian streamers, late-night sessions are the lifeblood of their content
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