TikTok Removes 1.4 Million Violative Videos by Nigerian Users in Q3 2023

In its recent Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, Bytedance’s short video platform, TikTok, disclosed the removal of 1.4 million videos originating from Nigerian users during the third quarter of the current year.

The report outlined that Nigeria featured among the top 50 countries contributing to policy-violating content in Q3, with a global total of 136.5 million videos removed during this period.

TikTok’s content removals, centered around policies related to Integrity and Authenticity, Privacy and Security, Mental and Behavioral Health, Safety, and Civility, targeted videos that contravened one or more of these guidelines.

Notably, the top 50 markets identified in the report accounted for approximately 90% of all content removals during the quarter.

In addition to video removals, TikTok reported the removal of 73.6 million accounts identified as spam or fake during the same period.

The company expressed a commitment to vigilance in detecting and addressing external threats aimed at the platform, acknowledging occasional fluctuations in reported metrics within these areas.

The enforcement report highlighted the removal of 348.7 million likes, 211.3 million fake followers, and 7.2 billion fake follow requests, all identified as originating from automated or inauthentic mechanisms.

TikTok has emphasised its dedication to promptly identifying and removing any accounts, content, or activities seeking to artificially boost popularity on the platform.

Furthermore, the report noted an increase in the volume of ads removed for violating TikTok’s advertising policies during Q3 2023, totaling 1.3 million, compared to 962,574 in Q2.

TikTok emphasised its ongoing efforts to review and strengthen systems, identifying new patterns and swiftly removing ads that breach policies to enhance the trustworthiness and enjoyment of the advertising experience for its vibrant community.

Despite these removals, TikTok remains a widely used social media platform globally, with a notable surge in user-generated revenue.

A recent report from data.ai revealed that TikTok achieved $3.8 billion in consumer spending from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in 2023, contributing to a total revenue of $10 billion.

The report highlighted TikTok’s significant achievement as the first mobile app to generate over $1 billion in worldwide consumer spending during a single quarter in Q1 2023, solidifying its prominent position in the social media landscape.

Emerging Challenges in the Social Media Landscape:
The surge in fake accounts, likes, and follow requests underscores the persistent challenge platforms face in combating spam and inauthentic engagement.

TikTok’s acknowledgment of fluctuations in reported metrics suggests an evolving landscape of threats and countermeasures.

Exploring how TikTok adapts its enforcement strategies to address emerging challenges provides a glimpse into the broader issues shaping social media integrity and security.

User-Generated Revenue and Future Trends:
While TikTok’s content moderation efforts are evident, the platform’s financial success and user-generated revenue present another facet of its impact.

Analysing the $3.8 billion in consumer spending and the unique position TikTok holds as the first mobile app to surpass $1 billion in quarterly spending can stimulate discussions on the future trends of monetisation in the social media landscape.

Insights into user behaviour, preferences, and spending patterns can guide both the platform and advertisers in shaping effective strategies for sustainable revenue growth.