TikTok Removes Over 3.6 Million Videos in Nigeria Over Safety Violations in Q1 2025
Story written by daniel okafor (July 16, 2025):
TikTok has removed over 3.6 million videos from Nigeria between January and March 2025 for violating its Community Guidelines, marking a 50% increase in content removals compared to the previous quarter. This was revealed in TikTok’s Q1 2025 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, highlighting the platform’s continued commitment to user safety and content integrity.
The report disclosed a 98.4% proactive detection rate, meaning the vast majority of these videos were removed before being reported by users. Additionally, 92.1% of the removed content was taken down within 24 hours of being posted.
While the figure may appear high, TikTok clarified that the removed videos represent only a small fraction of the total content created by Nigerian users, emphasizing that the platform remains a space for positive, creative, and empowering content.
In March 2025 alone, TikTok also removed 129 accounts across West Africa that were linked to covert influence operations, reinforcing its stance against manipulative or deceptive practices.
TikTok LIVE, a feature allowing real-time interaction between creators and their audiences, also saw increased moderation. In Nigeria, 42,196 LIVE rooms were banned, and 48,156 streams were interrupted during the first quarter for breaching content policies. The platform has also strengthened its LIVE Monetization Guidelines to clarify what types of content are eligible for earnings.
Globally, TikTok removed over 211 million videos in Q1 2025, a significant jump from the 153 million taken down the previous quarter. Of this, over 184 million removals were carried out automatically using advanced moderation tools. The global proactive detection rate reached an impressive 99%, showcasing improvements in the platform’s ability to rapidly identify and eliminate harmful content.
Despite these enforcement figures, TikTok emphasized that less than 1% of total global content violates its Community Guidelines—demonstrating the effectiveness of its safety systems and the overall positive nature of content on the platform.
To further promote digital well-being, TikTok Africa hosted the “My Kind of TikTok Digital Well-being Summit” in June 2025. The summit brought together creators, NGOs, media, and tech experts from across Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, to discuss safety, mental health, and responsible content creation.
As part of its commitment to user support, TikTok announced the expansion of in-app helpline features in Nigeria. Through a partnership with Cece Yara, a child-focused non-profit organization, the platform will soon offer direct access to local helplines to assist users—particularly youth—who report content involving suicide, self-harm, hate, or harassment.
With these proactive steps, TikTok reaffirms its role as a leading platform prioritizing safety, trust, and well-being across Nigeria and beyond.
