Live streams on TikTok in Kenya spur worries about online harassment and child endangerment
In 2022, concerns were raised about TikTok Live becoming a platform for the sexual exploitation of minors, particularly young girls. A BBC investigation has now uncovered that the app, which boasts a massive user base in Kenya, has been profiting from sexual livestreams performed by underage Kenyan teens. The revelation has sparked fresh debates about content moderation and child safety measures on social media platforms with a young demographic.
TikTok derives about 70% of its earnings from livestream transactions, including those from illicit and offensive content. Age restrictions for hosting livestreams and sending or receiving virtual gifts, ostensibly in place, appear to be ineffective, with many young adults and children engaging in online transactions involving sexual favors.
Forbes revealed this problematic situation two years ago, likening it to "the digital equivalent of going down the street to a strip club filled with 15-year-olds." Despite this exposé, the illegal activity shows no signs of abating, leaving many young women abroad more susceptible to such exploitation.
The BBC found that live streams featuring Kenyan teenagers, often dancing suggestively, are popular on the platform. Over several nights, the investigative team discovered up to a dozen such streams with hundreds of viewers from around the world. Performers would often use coded sexual slang to advertise their services, while viewers would encourage the teens to perform more explicit acts, with reward systems in place for such performances.
The insidious nature of this content highlights TikTok's failure to implement effective safety measures to protect minors from harassment and virtual abuse. The platform enables minors to openly promote and negotiate payment for explicit content that can then be sent via other messaging platforms.
The trade of child pornography on TikTok is no longer hidden but takes place openly, attracting a highly engaged clientele. Kenya, with its younger demographic and widespread internet usage, has emerged as a hotspot for this abuse. According to ChildFund Kenya, the African continent as a whole has poor online moderation compared to Western countries, worsening the extent of this issue.
Kenya and TikTok now face urgent questions about what action will be taken to address this pervasive child safety issue. The forthcoming Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) in the U.S. is aimed at holding social media platforms accountable for preventing and mitigating harms to minors. While specific actions in Kenya have not been detailed, TikTok's global safety measures, including age-verification, digital wellbeing tools, community guidelines, and mental health initiatives, can presumably be applied there. Parental supervision tools, correct age reporting, and collaboration with local authorities could help to further ensure the safety of minors on the platform.
Technology companies, such as TikTok, face increased scrutiny over their content moderation policies, particularly concerning the safety of minors. The entertainment and social-media platform has been accused of profiting from sexual livestreams performed by underage users, a problem that extends beyond Kenya to other regions. General-news outlets have reported on the widespread issue of child exploitation on TikTok, prompting calls for reform in policymaking and platform management (politics and technology) to protect minors from such risks. Crime-and-justice investigations reveal that the platform serves as a marketplace for child pornography, exploiting the vulnerabilities of young girls and boys (crime-and-justice).
