TikTok, the popular short-form video platform owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, has taken down over 3.6 million videos posted by Nigerian users in the first quarter of 2025, citing violations of its Community Guidelines. This marks a significant 50% increase from the previous quarter, when 2.4 million videos were removed in Nigeria for similar violations.

The data comes from TikTok’s Q1 2025 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, which outlines the company’s efforts to maintain a secure, respectful, and trustworthy environment for its global community.

TikTok’s Growing Enforcement in Nigeria

According to the report, 98.4% of the content removed in Nigeria was taken down proactively, meaning it was flagged and eliminated before users reported it. Additionally, 92.1% of the videos removed were taken down within 24 hours of being uploaded.

This rapid response underlines TikTok’s continued investment in automated detection tools, AI-powered moderation, and local content review teams, particularly in regions like West Africa, where digital content regulation is increasingly scrutinized.

In March 2025, the platform also terminated 129 accounts in West Africa linked to covert and deceptive operations, signaling a wider effort to combat misinformation and manipulation.

Global Impact: Over 211 Million Videos Removed Worldwide

Globally, TikTok removed more than 211 million videos in the first quarter of 2025—a steep rise from the 153 million videos taken down in the last quarter of 2024. Of the Q1 removals, over 184 million were detected and deleted using automation.

The platform’s proactive detection rate worldwide climbed to 99%, demonstrating improvements in identifying harmful or misleading content before it spreads.

In the area of fake engagement, TikTok deleted:

• 44.7 million spam comments originating from fake accounts

• 4.3 billion fake likes, followers, and follow requests generated through automated or inauthentic mechanisms

The company reiterated its commitment to digital integrity, stating:

“We remain vigilant in our efforts to detect external threats and safeguard the platform from fake accounts and engagement. These threats persistently probe and attack our systems, leading to occasional fluctuations in the reported metrics within these areas.”

LIVE Streaming Enforcement Sees Major Action in Nigeria

While TikTok LIVE continues to grow as a real-time engagement tool for creators and audiences, TikTok intensified enforcement of its LIVE Monetization Guidelines in Q1 2025.

In Nigeria alone, the platform:

• Banned 42,196 LIVE rooms

• Shut down 48,156 ongoing streams found to be in violation of its community rules

These numbers reflect TikTok’s stricter stance on content monetization abuse, ensuring that only eligible and safe content can generate revenue through the platform’s live features.

Despite the aggressive enforcement, TikTok clarified that harmful content remains a small fraction of total uploads, with less than 1% of global content found to violate its policies.

External Scrutiny: Legal Troubles in the United States

Despite these internal efforts, TikTok continues to face mounting external challenges, particularly in the United States. In October 2024, 13 U.S. states and Washington D.C. filed lawsuits against the platform, accusing it of failing to protect children from harm.

These lawsuits, brought by states including New York, California, and Florida, claim that TikTok:

• Intentionally designs addictive features that exploit minors’ vulnerabilities

• Fails to implement adequate safeguards to prevent exposure to harmful content

• Prioritizes profit over safety, allegedly contributing to rising mental health issues among youth

The states demand financial penalties and seek stronger regulatory oversight, further intensifying TikTok’s ongoing legal and reputational challenges in one of its largest user markets.

What This Means for Nigerian Users and Regulators

TikTok’s takedown of millions of videos and fake engagements in Nigeria reflects a heightened push to clean up the platform, especially as concerns about digital misinformation, online safety, and content addiction rise globally.

While the company’s automated systems and local moderation teams are playing a key role, there is growing pressure on regulatory bodies in Nigeria to enact stronger digital laws, similar to the scrutiny TikTok faces in other jurisdictions.

Analysts warn that without external accountability, platforms like TikTok may fall short of protecting vulnerable users—especially young Nigerians, who make up a large portion of the app’s user base.

As digital engagement deepens in Nigeria, the challenge remains: how to balance free expression, digital innovation, and user protection in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Bottom Line
TikTok’s removal of over 3.6 million Nigerian videos in just one quarter signals a significant step toward more responsible digital governance. However, the platform’s simultaneous legal woes abroad highlight the urgent need for stronger local oversight and continued vigilance to ensure that social media remains a tool for empowerment, not exploitation.