TikTok is profiting from sexual livestreams performed by teens as young as 15, the BBC has been told. The platform takes a 70% cut from livestream transactions, despite banning solicitation. Moderators told the BBC that TikTok is aware of the issue but fails to adequately address it.
In Kenya, where livestreams are popular, women as young as 15 use TikTok to advertise and negotiate payment for explicit content sent via other platforms. Performers use coded language, such as “kinembe” (Swahili for “clitoris”), to solicit private messages for sexual acts. Emoji “gifts” sent during livestreams act as payment, which TikTok converts into cash.
Former moderators, speaking anonymously, said TikTok’s moderation tools are insufficient to detect local slang or suggestive gestures. One moderator, “Jo,” estimated 80% of flagged livestreams involved sexual content. TikTok relies heavily on AI for moderation, which struggles to identify nuanced violations.
ChildFund Kenya reports children as young as nine are participating in these activities, driven by poverty and limited opportunities. Teenagers like “Esther,” 17, say they earn about £30 daily, enough to support their families. Esther began livestreaming at 15 after a friend helped her bypass TikTok’s age restrictions.
Some users with large followings act as “digital pimps,” hosting livestreams and taking a cut of earnings. Esther described feeling exploited, as her pimp took the majority of her income. Another young woman, “Sophie,” now 18, said she regrets her involvement after explicit videos she sent were shared without her consent, leading to social ostracism.
TikTok has faced criticism for failing to curb child exploitation. A 2022 lawsuit by Utah alleged TikTok ignored the issue because it “profited significantly” from such content. TikTok denies the claims, citing “proactive measures” to improve safety.
In Kenya, where internet usage is widespread and moderation is weak, the problem is acute. Despite a 2023 meeting between TikTok’s CEO and Kenya’s president to address content moderation, little has changed, moderators say.
TikTok stated it has “zero tolerance for exploitation” and enforces strict safety policies, including moderation in 70 languages and partnerships with local experts. However, critics argue the platform must do more to protect vulnerable users, especially in developing markets. BBC
