TikTok temporarily blocks LIVE feature at night in Nigeria as safety probe begins
It has raised questions about TikTok's safety enforcement and what changes may follow.
TikTok has quietly rolled out a temporary restriction on its LIVE feature for users in Nigeria, blocking access during late-night hours while the company carries out what it calls a safety investigation. The change appeared on Sunday night, catching creators off guard just as their peak streaming window was beginning.
Just after midnight, Nigerian users received an in-app system notification titled “TikTok LIVE Update in Nigeria,” explaining that LIVE access would be limited late at night “as part of our investigation to ensure our platform remains safe and our community stays protected.” Before the notice appeared, creators had been streaming normally. But by 11 pm, the LIVE tab had gone dark for many, showing a simple “No Access” label that lasted until around 5 am.
The restriction didn’t just stop creators from going live; it also blocked them from watching other broadcasts, including streams from outside the country. Only users with the required 1,000-follower threshold received the notification, and several creators confirmed overnight that all LIVE activity had been shut off.
Even though the blackout disrupted creator schedules, TikTok says it didn't interfere with their earnings. LIVE gifting balances and past payouts remained intact, easing concerns that the shutdown would impact income. By Monday morning, access had returned for most people, sparking speculation across social media as users tried to understand why TikTok would shut down a major feature nationwide.
Late-night streaming is one of the busiest periods for Nigerian creators. Many hosts match watch-alongs, entertainment commentary, trending challenges, and casual chats that draw large audiences and drive gifting activity. Cutting off the feature during that window left creators frustrated and searching for clarity.
Louis Eriakha
The move also follows new safety data TikTok shared for West Africa. At its West Africa Safety Summit in Dakar, the company revealed that in the second quarter of 2025 alone, it took action against more than 2.3 million LIVE sessions and over 1 million creators globally for violating LIVE monetisation rules. Nigeria featured prominently in the report, with 49,512 LIVE sessions banned within that period.
Beyond LIVE enforcement, TikTok removed 3.7 million videos posted from Nigeria between April and June 2025 for violating Community Guidelines. Nearly all, 98.7% to be exact, were taken down before they were viewed, and 91.9% were removed within 24 hours.
While normal access has returned, the temporary blackout raises questions about what TikTok is investigating and whether more restrictions could follow.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
