TikTok profits from sexual content by teens, sparks safety concerns: Report

• TikTok is facing allegations that it profits from explicit content created by minors. Reports claim teens as young as 15 use the platform to promote sexual services.
• ChildFund International reports a rise in online sexual exploitation of children in Kenya, with 13% of teens aged 12 to 17 threatened or blackmailed into participating in sexual activities.
• TikTok defends its safety measures, stating that its automated technology removes harmful content and restricts features for minors.

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Moderators for TikTok, a popular social media platform known for its dancing videos and tutorials, have raised concerns that the app is now being used for soliciting sexual services. The platform’s “TikTok Live” feature allows users to livestream and connect with audiences worldwide, which has led to its exploitation.

BBC reports teens are being sexually exploited on TikTok

Moderators and organizations claim TikTok profits from explicit content created by teenagers as young as 15, according to a report from the BBC.

In 2024, ChildFund International tracked a rise in the abuse of children across Africa. The organization reported a 13% increase in the number of 12- to 17-year-olds in Kenya who were threatened or blackmailed into engaging in sexual activities online.

The news outlet spoke with women from Kenya who said, as teenagers, they used TikTok to advertise on livestreams. These users reportedly engaged in provocative behavior, such as dancing or posing, to draw in messages from other users requesting sexual activities. In some cases, teens were paid to meet users in person.

According to moderators hired by TikTok, these “performers” use slang with sexual connotations, which is reportedly common on the platform. Users can send virtual gifts during livestreams, which are then converted into real cash.

Livestreamers are said to split half of their earnings with TikTok for each transaction, according to a lawsuit filed in Utah against the app.

Utah sues TikTok

Utah’s attorney general and governor sued TikTok in 2024 for allowing teens to be sexually exploited in exchange for money. The lawsuit alleges that TikTok is aware of the dangers minors face on the app but has failed to take adequate action.

Utah court documents reveal evidence of a redacted internal investigation by TikTok conducted in 2022. The investigation reportedly confirmed that the company profits from virtual gifts, with the largest portion coming from content featuring sexual activity and nudity.

TikTok’s ‘zero tolerance’ for sexual exploitation

In a statement, TikTok said it has a “zero tolerance” policy for exploitation. The company has also partnered with content creators to produce videos promoting online safety and privacy, specifically targeting teens and their parents. TikTok’s website states that it uses automated moderation technology to remove harmful content and weed out bad accounts.

To further protect minors, TikTok says it limits the features available to users under 18, such as not allowing them to livestream or receive gifts.

For users 16 and under, additional restrictions apply. These include only allowing comments from friends, no direct messaging, and requiring accounts to be set to private.