Over 1.1-million videos have been removed for violating community guidelines between January and March 2025, a 17% increase in removals compared to videos removed in the last three months of 2024, says the platform.

Almost all (99.6%) violating content in these first three months of the year was proactively removed before someone needed to report it. Adding to this, 94.3% of violations were removed within 24 hours, highlighting the speed and efficiency of TikTok's combined moderation approach, using technology and human moderators. In addition to this, the report also highlights the removal of more than 107 000 accounts in the country for breaching the platform's rules, adds the platform.

With millions of videos uploaded daily and understanding that there is no finish line when it comes to safety, TikTok continuously invests in capabilities to identify and remove harmful content, says the platform.

Over 87% of all video removals are now done through automated moderation technologies — an investment that has significantly improved the speed and consistency with which violative content is identified and dealt with. These advancements serve the dual purpose of preventing harmful content from reaching viewers and reducing the volume of violative content for people to review, adds the platform.

TikTok LIVE 

While TikTok LIVE enables creators and viewers to connect, create and build communities together, in real-time, the platform has intensified its LIVE Monetisation Guidelines to clarify what content is or isn't eligible for monetisation, says the platform.

LIVE content enforcement also remained a top priority. A worldwide total of 19-million LIVE rooms were stopped this quarter, a 50% increase from the previous quarter. This increase shows how effective prioritisation of moderation accuracy has been, as the number of appeals remains steady amid the increase in automated moderation, adds the platform.

Bringing Resources to South Africa's Community, Together

In June, TikTok Africa hosted its "My Kind of TikTok Digital Well-being Summit", bringing together experts, NGOs, creators, media and industry leaders from across Sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, to collectively explore, tackle and improve the state of digital wellbeing both on and beyond the platform, says the platform.

Part of a suite of announcements made at the Summit and building on a successful pilot in Europe, TikTok is expanding in-app helpline resources to South Africa, in partnership with Childline South Africa, a non-profit organisation that works to protect children from violence and further the culture of children's rights in the country. This means that in the coming weeks, young users in South Africa will have access to local helplines in-app that provide expert support when reporting content related to suicide, self-harm, hate and harassment, adds the platform.

Collaborating with experts, TikTok also announces Sanam Naran (@theconsciouspsychologist) and Medical Doctor, Siyamak Saleh (@doctor.siya) as TikTok Digital Well-Being Ambassadors, part of a diverse group of verified healthcare professionals from the WHO Fides Network, says the platform.

Alongside these efforts and commitment to safety, TikTok encourages community participation through user reporting and education. As part of its ongoing '#SaferTogether' campaign, the platform advocates for a more collaborative approach to creating a respectful online environment, adds the platform.

By integrating advanced moderation technologies with the expertise of thousands of trust and safety professionals, and by empowering communities with accurate information, TikTok not only upholds its rigorous Community Guidelines but also cultivates secure environments for communities to flourish and individuals to share enriching experiences, says the platform.

The Q1 2025 report reflects TikTok's continued efforts to safeguard its South African user base, strengthen enforcement systems and remain transparent about the measures being taken to uphold platform integrity.

The full report can be accessed here.

For more information, visit www.tiktok.com. You can also follow TikTok South Africa on X, Instagram, or on TikTok. 

*Image courtesy of Instagram