TikTok’s Troubling Profit from Teen Livestreams in Kenya

TikTok is reportedly profiting from sexual livestreams featuring teenagers as young as 15, raising serious concerns about exploitation. Interviews with three women in Kenya revealed that they began this practice in their teens, utilizing TikTok to promote and negotiate payment for explicit content shared via other messaging platforms.

Despite TikTok’s ban on solicitation, moderators have acknowledged to the BBC that such activities are prevalent. The platform reportedly retains approximately 70% of all livestream transaction revenues, a figure corroborated by previous investigations.

While TikTok asserts a “zero tolerance for exploitation,” the reality is more complex. Livestreams originating from Kenya have gained significant popularity, with multiple performers engaging in suggestive dancing and provocative poses, often viewed by hundreds globally. Late-night sessions in Nairobi feature a lively atmosphere, where users engage in rapid-fire chats as performers entice viewers with phrases like “Inbox me for kinembe,” a coded invitation for explicit requests.

“Kinembe,” a Swahili term for “clitoris,” signals a call for private messages that may lead to more graphic interactions, including masturbation and sexual acts with other women. Livestreams often utilize coded language to promote these services while adhering to TikTok’s guidelines against explicit content.

The platform’s emoji “gifts,” which serve as a form of payment, can be converted into cash, further incentivizing this behavior. A former moderator, referred to as Jo, highlighted that TikTok benefits from the increased engagement these livestreams generate, complicating the platform’s incentive to clamp down on solicitation.

TikTok has been aware of the potential for child exploitation within its livestreams, having conducted an internal investigation in 2022. However, claims from a lawsuit filed by the state of Utah suggest the company has largely ignored the issue due to the financial gains involved.

Kenya has emerged as a hotspot for this troubling trend, with a young demographic and widespread internet access exacerbating the problem. According to ChildFund Kenya, the continent faces significant challenges in online moderation compared to Western nations, leaving vulnerable youth at risk.