Morning Listers, This situation highlights a serious failure in content moderation and platform responsibility. TikTok’s "zero tolerance" stance rings hollow when the platform is clearly profiting from exploitative content. The fact that teenage girls in Kenya are openly advertising explicit content and negotiating payments on a major social media platform is alarming—not just for the individuals involved, but for the wider implications on child protection and digital ethics. There are several key issues here: 1. *TikTok's Role* – If TikTok is aware that this is happening and is still taking a cut of livestream earnings, then it is complicit in enabling exploitation. 2. *Regulation & Enforcement* – Why aren’t regulators holding platforms accountable for these activities? Digital laws need to be strengthened, and enforcement needs to be more proactive. 3. *Economic Desperation & Online Risks* – Many young people in Kenya and other regions may turn to this as an income source due to financial hardship, highlighting deeper socioeconomic challenges. Best regards, Alexander N. Kathanzu. On Fri, 7 Mar 2025 at 01:12, Mwendwa Kivuva via KICTANet < [email protected]> wrote:
TikTok is profiting from sexual livestreams performed by teens as young as 15, the BBC has been told.
BBC spoke to three women in Kenya who said they began this activity as teenagers. They told us they used TikTok to openly advertise and negotiate payment for more explicit content that would be sent via other messaging platforms.
TikTok bans solicitation but the company knows it takes place, moderators have told the BBC. TikTok takes a cut of about 70% from all livestream transactions, we have previously found <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-63213567>.
TikTok told the BBC it has "zero tolerance for exploitation".
Livestreams from Kenya are popular on TikTok - each night over the course of a week, we found up to a dozen in which women performers danced suggestively, watched by hundreds of people around the world.
Read more here https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cedl8eyy4pjo.amp
In a response to the @BBCAfrica Report on Sexual Livestreams on TikTok. Communications Authorty of Kenya asks TikTok to take down offensive content and offer an explanation how their community standards were breached https://x.com/ca_kenya/status/1897633264002551872?s=46
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