TikTok has announced it will permanently ban accounts that promote the sexualisation, exploitation, or endangerment of Nigerian minors. The move comes in response to growing concerns about child safety on the platform and months of advocacy by civic-tech group, Citizens’ Gavel.
The decision was revealed in a report released on Thursday by Citizens’ Gavel, and signed by Senior Legal Analyst, Sylvester Agih. According to the group, TikTok has now updated its Terms of Service—set to take effect from July 25, 2025—to include key child protection measures that reflect demands made earlier this year.
Agih explained that the organisation had written to TikTok on February 8, 2025, urging the platform to take immediate action against harmful content targeting minors. When TikTok failed to meet their demands within the set timeframe, Citizens’ Gavel filed a lawsuit (SUIT NO. FHC/L/CS/517/2025) at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Following both advocacy and legal intervention, TikTok has now implemented several major reforms, including:
- Permanent Bans: Accounts promoting the exploitation or sexualisation of minors will be permanently removed, with banned users blocked from creating new accounts.
- Stricter Age Restrictions: Direct messaging will now be limited to users aged 16 and above, while features like TikTok Live and virtual gifting will only be accessible to those 18+. The platform will also actively identify and remove underage accounts.
- Enhanced Content Moderation: A combination of AI tools and human reviewers will be used to promptly detect and remove harmful content. TikTok’s new terms explicitly prohibit the sharing or live streaming of illegal or exploitative material, especially content endangering minors.
Agih welcomed the changes as “a step forward in building safer digital environments for children,” but stressed that further actions are still needed.
“We’ll be monitoring TikTok’s enforcement of these policies closely. Our outstanding demands include independent audits of TikTok’s child safety protocols, stronger collaboration with law enforcement to prosecute offenders, and the creation of a dedicated Child Protection Task Force within the platform,” he said.
Citizens’ Gavel reaffirmed its commitment to holding digital platforms accountable and protecting children from online abuse and exploitation.
