Key Points

• TikTok restricted late-night live access in Nigeria.

• New limits reduce late-night live access risks.

• Policy targets youth safety and sleep patterns.

As part of a larger effort to promote digital health and safety, TikTok has added new rules about late-night live streaming in Nigeria. These rules make it harder for users to go live on the platform.

This week’s changes stop some users, especially younger accounts, from using live-streaming features during the night. The company said that the update is meant to promote healthier online habits, cut down on exposure to harmful content, and limit real-time interactions, which tend to be highest late at night.

This move puts Nigeria on a growing list of markets where TikTok is testing stricter time-based controls on interactive features.

There are stricter rules for late-night live access

Teenage accounts will automatically have limited access to late-night live streams, and adult users will also see prompts and interruptions that are meant to stop them from streaming all night. TikTok said that the tools use information about a user’s age and behaviour to decide when limits should be put in place.

Digital safety experts say that it can be harder to keep an eye on late-night live streams in real time, which makes it more likely that people will break the rules, harass others, and let unsafe content through filtering systems.

Late-night live access connected to safety push

TikTok said the change was part of its larger plan to build trust and safety. The company said that the new controls aren’t aimed at any one country, but are part of a global effort to find a balance between keeping users interested and protecting their mental health and the safety of the public.

The change could hurt creators in Nigeria, where the platform has quickly gained popularity among young people. These creators depend on overnight live sessions to interact with their fans and get digital gifts. Some content creators were worried that fewer streaming hours could hurt their visibility and income

Creators get used to new streaming rules

Influencers and small content businesses are now changing their live schedules to earlier times to fit in with the new system. Marketing firms say that brands that use live-stream campaigns may need to change their schedules to keep reaching their audience.

Policy experts said that the feature limits could make the internet safer, but it will be important for enforcement to be clear so that creators and users don’t get confused.

As competition among short-video platforms heats up, people in emerging markets like Nigeria are keeping a close eye on TikTok’s ability to keep creators safe while also helping them grow.