ByteDance’s popular short video platform, TikTok, has announced the removal of 1.7 million videos uploaded by Nigerian users during the fourth quarter of 2023. The move comes as part of the platform’s ongoing efforts to enforce its Community Guidelines and maintain a safe and authentic environment for its users.
According to TikTok’s Community Guidelines Enforcement report, Nigeria was among the top 50 countries from which videos violating the platform’s policies originated. The report revealed that the top 50 markets accounted for approximately 90% of all content removals during the quarter, with a total of 176.5 million videos removed globally.
The deleted videos were found to have violated one or more of TikTok’s policies related to safety, civility, mental and behavioral health, privacy and security, integrity, and authenticity. By removing content that goes against its guidelines, TikTok aims to foster a positive and trustworthy environment for its global community.
In addition to video removals, TikTok also took action against spam and fake accounts during the fourth quarter of 2023. The platform removed a staggering 169 million accounts that were identified as fraudulent or spam. Furthermore, TikTok deleted 1.2 million bot comments on content tagged with hashtags related to the Israel-Hamas war, demonstrating its commitment to combating inauthentic engagement.
TikTok also cracked down on artificial engagement by removing 1.03 billion likes from videos, 720 million fake followers, and 4.9 billion fake follow requests. These actions were taken against likes, followers, and follow requests that were discovered to have originated from automated or inauthentic mechanisms.
The platform’s advertising ecosystem was not exempt from scrutiny either. TikTok reported an increase in the volume of ads removed for violating its advertising policies, with 1.5 million ads removed in Q4 2023, up from 1.3 million in the previous quarter. The company emphasized its commitment to continuously reviewing and strengthening its systems to identify and remove ads that violate its policies, ensuring a trustworthy and enjoyable advertising experience for its users.
Despite the significant number of removals, TikTok remains one of the most popular social media platforms worldwide, with its user-generated revenue continuing to soar. A recent report from data.ai revealed that TikTok generated $3.8 billion in consumer spending from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in 2023, bringing its total revenue to an impressive $10 billion.
As TikTok continues to grow and evolve, the platform remains dedicated to upholding its Community Guidelines and maintaining a safe and authentic environment for its global user base. By actively removing content, accounts, and ads that violate its policies, TikTok aims to provide an enjoyable and trustworthy experience for its vibrant community.
