By Rilwan Abdulyekeen

In the age of digital connectivity, social media platforms like TikTok have revolutionized how people communicate, entertain, and even earn a living. However, beneath the surface of lip-syncs and dance challenges lies a troubling trend that deserves urgent attention TikTok Live is increasingly being used as a platform for online begging, adult content, and potentially, illicit financial transactions disguised as “gifts.”
Last week a random follower of a popular Tiktok star from Lagos, Nigeria was gifted a Lion gift twice , he was surprised to have received same from someone just randomly on Tiktok.

How many more Live spaces are going on “LIVE” On Tiktok purposely for illicit funds transfer without a cap using Gifts ? and from Gifts converted to Fiat currency for ” Balling” activities.
Across Nigeria and beyond, a growing number of TikTok users now exploit the live feature to solicit money under the guise of entertainment. From performing humiliating tasks like jumping five times for a gift to engaging in sexually explicit behavior such as displaying breasts or engaging in suggestive dance routines users, Sex talking about sexual experiences without age cap to people joining the space, particularly women and underage girls, are commodifying their dignity in exchange for digital rewards.

These digital rewards, known as TikTok gifts, are bought with real money and can be converted back into cash by the recipient. While the concept was originally intended to support content creators, it has rapidly become a loophole for disturbing trends, including financial exploitation, cyber-sexualization, and even money laundering.
According to fourthwall in their publication on the 25th of June , 2024 a lion is Lion whose coin value is 29,999 coins is Approximately USD: $398.95(Approx. N597,750) and a TikTok Universe whose Coin value is 44,999 coins Approximate USD: $562.48 (Approx. N843,720)
There is rising suspicion among cybersecurity experts that TikTok gifting may be exploited as a discreet tool for laundering money and transferring criminal proceeds across borders, effectively bypassing traditional financial monitoring systems. Fraudsters, Terrorist and scammers are believed to be leveraging this “gifting” model to fund illegal activities under the radar, masked as fan appreciation.
Disturbingly, the platform’s moderation systems are failing to stem the tide. Community guidelines exist but are poorly enforced in Nigeria and much of Africa. This leaves a vulnerable population especially children, teenagers, and financially distressed individuals open to exploitation, trauma, and long-term behavioral harm.

My Call to Government for Action is ,
It is time for the Nigerian government to act. The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and other relevant agencies must urgently step up to regulate and monitor TikTok’s operations in Nigeria. There must be clear policies to:

1. Cap the monetary value of TikTok gifting to reduce the platform’s attractiveness to fraudsters and limit exploitation.
2. Implement strict age verification and restrictions to prevent underage users especially girls and boys from accessing or broadcasting on platforms with adult content.
3. Introduce a regulated daily screen time limit for young users to reduce their exposure and encourage more productive use of time.
4. Collaborate with TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to localize content moderation and ensure Nigerian laws and cultural values are respected.

In a nation grappling with youth unemployment, insecurity, and moral decay, allowing a digital marketplace of obscenity and criminal facilitation to flourish unchecked is dangerous. Our youths are the future they should be inspired to focus on education, innovation, productivity, and national development, not distracted by online theatrics that erode societal values.
Social media is not inherently evil, but if left unregulated, it can destroy more than it builds. Now is the time to place digital responsibility and national integrity above virtual gratification.

Rilwan Abdulyekeen is a technology and digital ethics analyst.
Writes from Abuja, Nigeria.