TikTok has temporarily restricted access to its LIVE streaming feature for users in Nigeria during late-night hours, triggering widespread reactions among creators who depend on the platform for engagement and income. The restriction, which affected LIVE sessions between approximately 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., was implemented as part of what TikTok described as an ongoing safety investigation.
Affected creators received in-app notifications informing them that their ability to host LIVE streams at night had been temporarily disabled. In a statement responding to media enquiries, a TikTok spokesperson confirmed the move, saying the company was “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 platform did not provide a specific timeline for the review but indicated that updates would be shared as the investigation progresses.
Checks by local media showed that while LIVE broadcasts were accessible earlier in the evening, many Nigerian users suddenly encountered a “No Access” message during late-night hours. The restriction applied only to creators eligible to host LIVE sessions—typically users with at least 1,000 followers—and did not affect standard video uploads or account balances. TikTok also confirmed that creators who earn through LIVE gifting retained access to their previous earnings, easing fears of financial loss.
The move had an immediate impact on Nigeria’s creator economy. Late-night hours are typically peak periods for Nigerian streamers, particularly those hosting entertainment shows, live sports commentary, music sessions, and interactive talk formats. For many creators, these sessions drive both visibility and monetisation, making the temporary suspension a significant disruption.
Beyond individual creators, brands and digital marketers are also reassessing their strategies. Influencer campaigns built around LIVE engagement may need rescheduling or a shift toward pre-recorded content, while creators are adjusting streaming schedules to earlier hours in hopes of maintaining audience reach.
The restriction comes against the backdrop of heightened safety scrutiny by TikTok in West Africa. At its recent West Africa Safety Summit in Dakar, the company revealed that in the second quarter of 2025, it took action against over 2.3 million LIVE sessions globally and more than one million LIVE creators for violating LIVE monetisation guidelines. In Nigeria alone, 49,512 LIVE sessions were banned during the same period. TikTok also reported removing nearly 3.8 million videos in Nigeria between April and June 2025 for breaching community guidelines, with the majority taken down before gaining significant views.
While TikTok has not explicitly linked the late-night restriction to specific incidents, industry observers note growing concerns around non-consensual sexual content, unsafe interactions, and youth protection—issues that tend to escalate during late-night online activity. Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital population has intensified the challenge of balancing platform safety with creator livelihoods.
By Monday morning, LIVE access had been restored, sparking widespread debate online about the decision and its implications. The episode highlights a broader tension facing global social platforms: how to enforce safety standards in fast-growing markets without undermining the creator ecosystems that drive engagement and economic opportunity.
As TikTok continues its review, Nigerian creators and brands are watching closely, aware that further policy changes could reshape how LIVE content is produced, monetised, and moderated in one of Africa’s most active digital markets.
