Is TikTok turning into OnlyFans? Video app announces it is launching an adults-only option for live broadcasts
- TikTok is launching a new adults-only option for live broadcasts
- This means that adult creators can limit the audience to those aged 18+
- TikTok says the feature could be used for comedy routines
- But users suggest the feature could be used to feature sexual content
It’s the go-to social media app for teenagers, but it appears that TikTok is looking to expand its reach to older users.
The video app has announced that it’s launching an adults-only option for live broadcasts.
TikTok claims the new feature could be used for comedy routines better suited for people over age 18, or livestreams about ‘difficult life experiences’.
However, some users have been quick to suggest that the feature could be used to feature sexual content, with one suggesting that ‘TikTok is going down the OnlyFans route’.
It’s the go-to social media app for teenagers, but it appears that TikTok is looking to expand its reaches to older users. The video app has announced that it’s launching an adults-only option for live broadcasts
TikTok’s new livestreaming options
Currently, people must be aged 16 or over to host a livestream on TikTok, although any users are able to tune in to watch.
However, this age limit will increase to 18 next month.
Creators will also have the option to limit the audience’s age to 18+.
TikTok announced the new adults-only feature in a newsroom post this week.
‘The foundation of TikTok is built on community trust and safety,’ it explained.
‘To protect our users and creators and support their well-being, we constantly work to evolve the safeguards we put in place.
‘Today, we’re making additional changes and improvements to help our community have the best experience possible when they use LIVE.’
Currently, people must be aged 16 or over to host a livestream on TikTok, although any users are able to tune in to watch these livestreams.
However, this age limit will increase to 18 next month, while creators will also have the option to limit the audience’s age to 18+.
‘Perhaps a comedy routine is better suited for people over age 18,’ TikTok said.
‘Or, a host may plan to talk about a difficult life experience and they would feel more comfortable knowing the conversation is limited to adults.’
New internal documents show that TikTok users spend more than ten times as many hours on the platform as Instagram users spend on Reels.
Instagram users spend 17.6 million hours a day watching Reels – less than one-tenth of the 197.8 million hours TikTok users spend scrolling each day, according to one document.
The document, which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, was published in August internally and showed that Reels engagement had been falling, dropping 13.6% over the previous four weeks, and that ‘most Reels users have no engagement whatsoever.’
Meta characterised the viewing hours data as outdated and not global in scope, but declined to give the Journal different numbers.
However, some users have suggested that the feature could be used to feature sexual content.
‘Feeling a lot better today – only to discover that Tiktok is going the onlyfans route…’ one user tweeted.
Another added: ‘TikTok adding adult-only livestreaming shows how much being a cam girl has gone from being seedy to a mainstream occupation.
‘Between Twitch & OnlyFans at both ends, it’s clear there are millions to be made catering to this audience. How times change.’
TikTok does not currently allow nudity or pornography.
On its Community Guidelines, it states: ‘We strive to create a platform that feels welcoming and safe.
‘We do not allow nudity, pornography, or sexually explicit content on our platform.
‘We also prohibit content depicting or supporting non-consensual sexual acts, the sharing of non-consensual intimate imagery, and adult sexual solicitation.’
However, Jake Moore, a cybersecurity expert at ESET, warned that this is harder to restrict in livestreams than in uploaded content.
Speaking to MailOnline, he said: ‘Live streaming seems to be the next big move for many of the social platforms but with this new dimension comes further problems such as privacy.
‘Being able to live stream means the footage is less likely to be reviewed by TikTok’s algorithm as monitoring struggles in real time.
‘If footage were to become rude or worse, seedy, the platform could take a dark dive in what it was originally intended for.’
MailOnline has contacted TikTok for further information on how it plans to review the livestreams in real-time.
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