TikTok enables young Kenyans to generate income through livestreams, but many face exploitation by digital pimps for financial gain.
Despite TikTok's claims of strict safety policies, the platform struggles to adequately address the rising risks of online exploitation.
Deep dives
The Rise of TikTok Live Streaming and Its Impact
TikTok live streaming has gained immense popularity in Kenya, where individuals use the platform for various purposes, including entertainment and generating income. Many young women participate in live streams, often dancing and interacting with viewers, while simultaneously soliciting gifts in the form of virtual tokens, which can translate to real money. This phenomenon tends to escalate at night, with some streams displaying more provocative content that crosses the boundaries of TikTok’s community guidelines. The platform enables users to connect with a global audience, but it also becomes a space where young women feel pressured to engage in sexualized performances for financial gain.
The Role of Digital Pimps
Some young women, seeking to earn money due to financial hardships, become involved with digital pimps who exploit them for their live streaming potential. These pimps often require a share of the earnings and maintain control over the young women’s activities, operating with little regard for the well-being of the individuals they exploit. For example, one 17-year-old revealed that despite being a minor, she was encouraged to dance naked on TikTok to attract gifts and subsequently sell explicit content offline for additional income. The exploitative dynamics leave these young women feeling trapped, fearful of the repercussions of defying their pimps, and uncertain about their safety.
Calls for Better Regulation and Support
Concerns surrounding the exploitation of young people on TikTok have prompted discussions about the need for stricter monitoring and regulation of the platform. Although TikTok claims to enforce safety policies, many feel that the current moderation practices are inadequate, particularly during peak times when harmful content is more prevalent. Some community organizations strive to educate parents and guardians about the risks of social media, highlighting the necessity for increased awareness and intervention from caregivers. The rising prevalence of online sexual exploitation among youth underscores the urgent need for both technological solutions and community support to safeguard vulnerable individuals.
With its dancing challenges and comedy sketches, it’s no surprise why Tiktok is popular with young Kenyans. It’s also a way for them to make money through the app’s gifting service. But there’s a darker side, where young women – and girls as young as 15 – are selling sexual content on livestreams, with some being recruited and exploited by “digital pimps”. Africa Eye’s Debula Kemoli investigates who is profiting.
A spokesperson for Tiktok said in a statement that they have zero tolerance for exploitation. And they enforce strict safety policies, including robust live content rules and moderation in 70 languages, including Swahili.
Producers: Nalini Sivathasan and Patrick Clahane
Editors: Pete Murimi and Rebecca Henschke
Sound engineer: Neil Churchill
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