A BBC investigation has uncovered that TikTok is profiting from sexual livestreams performed by teenagers as young as 15, with Kenya emerging as a hotspot for such exploitation.
The investigation shows how young women in Kenya are using TikTok to advertise and negotiate payment for explicit content, despite the platform’s ban on solicitation.
A Sultry Ring of Exploitation
Three women in Kenya revealed they began engaging in sexual livestreams as teenagers. These performers use TikTok to openly advertise their services, directing viewers to private messages on other platforms for more explicit content. According to what was learnt, TikTok takes a significant cut, approximately 70% from all livestream transactions.
Despite TikTok’s stated “zero tolerance for exploitation,” moderators told the BBC that the company is aware of these activities but has failed to take sufficient action.
The investigation also discovered that performers use coded language and emoji gifts to solicit payments. Phrases like Inbox me for kinembe (Swahili for “clitoris”) and Tap, tap (a call for viewers to “like” the livestream) are commonly used to advertise sexual services. Emoji gifts act as payment for both the livestreams and the more explicit content sent later via other platforms. These gifts can be converted into cash, with TikTok taking a substantial commission.
A former TikTok moderator, referred to as “Jo,” told the BBC that the platform has little incentive to crack down on such activities. “It’s not in TikTok’s interest to clamp down on soliciting of sex—the more people give gifts on a livestream… [the] more revenue for TikTok,” Jo said.
This is not the first time TikTok has been accused of profiting from exploitative content. In 2022, the BBC revealed that TikTok was taking a 70% cut from livestream gifts, a claim the company initially denied. Additionally, a lawsuit filed by the US state of Utah in 2023 alleged that TikTok was aware of child exploitation in its livestreams but ignored the issue because it “profited significantly” from them.
However, TikTok has responded to these allegations by stating that it has implemented “proactive measures” to improve safety. However, the ongoing lawsuit and the BBC’s latest findings suggest that these measures have been insufficient.
Kenya: A Hotspot for Abuse
Kenya has become a focal point for this type of exploitation, according to ChildFund Kenya. The charity attributes this to the country’s young demographic, widespread internet usage, and inadequate online moderation compared to Western countries.
The African continent as a whole faces similar challenges, with limited resources and infrastructure to combat online exploitation effectively.
