TikTok has revealed a new policy that limits late-night live streaming for users in Nigeria, blocking access to the LIVE feature from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. daily. The sudden restriction has sparked concern among creators who depend on night time engagement for stronger audience reach and monetization.
According to a system notification sent to Nigerian accounts, TikTok described the move as a temporary safety measure, noting that the platform is “investigating to ensure our community remains protected.” Only creators who meet TikTok’s eligibility for LIVE; typically those with at least 1,000 followers are affected by the nighttime lockdown.
Why TikTok Is Enforcing the Restriction
Though it’s not yet clear why TikTok has enforced this policy, the company says the restriction is part of an ongoing safety investigation targeted at keeping the Nigerian creator community secure. The platform has intensified content moderation in the country this year, removing millions of videos and banning thousands of LIVE sessions for guideline violations.
In earlier reports, TikTok revealed that over 49,000 LIVE sessions from Nigeria were taken down in 2025 for issues related to adult content, harmful behaviour, and violations of LIVE monetization rules. The new nighttime restriction appears to be an extension of this broader safety according to them.
Impact on Nigerian Creators
For many Nigerian creators, the 11 p.m.– 5 a.m. window is a high traffic period, especially for entertainment, lifestyle updates, gaming streams, and casual community chats. With LIVE now blocked during those hours, creators may experience:
- Reduced engagement and reach
- Lower gifting earnings during peak hours
- A shift in content scheduling and audience behaviour
However, TikTok confirmed that creators’ previous gift earnings and account balances remain untouched, meaning no financial losses on past live sessions.