TikTok Deletes 450,000 Videos, Bans 43,000 Accounts in Kenya

TikTok has taken down over 450,000 videos and banned 43,000 accounts in Kenya between January and April 2025 for violations of its Community Guidelines, the company revealed in its latest transparency report.

According to the report, the short-form video platform achieved a 92.1 per cent proactive removal rate, meaning the majority of violative content was eliminated before users could even view it.

Globally, TikTok reported a 99 per cent detection rate, a benchmark that underscores the effectiveness of its moderation systems.

“This approach is vital in mitigating the damaging effects of misinformation, hate speech, and violent material on the platform,” TikTok stated.

The company credited its success to a combination of automated moderation technologies and a global team of trust and safety professionals, which together ensure faster and more consistent content enforcement.

In a bid to enhance safety during real-time broadcasts, TikTok revealed it had shut down 19 million LIVE rooms globally during the same reporting period — a 50 per cent increase compared to the previous quarter.

Despite the surge in enforcement, the number of user appeals remained steady, suggesting improved accuracy in moderation.

“While TikTok LIVE enables creators and viewers to connect in real time, we’ve intensified our LIVE Monetisation Guidelines to clarify what content is or isn’t eligible for monetisation,” the company said.

As concerns around online safety and youth mental health continue to rise in Kenya, TikTok has ramped up efforts to promote digital wellbeing alongside content enforcement.

The platform announced strategic partnerships with local mental health organisations, including Childline Kenya and Mental360, to provide in-app support for young users.

Through the Childline Kenya partnership, users who encounter or report content related to suicide, self-harm, hate, or harassment will now have access to local helplines directly within the app.

In June, TikTok also launched a mental health awareness campaign in partnership with Mental360, aimed at reducing stigma, promoting open conversations, and delivering evidence-based mental health content tailored for Kenyan youth.

As part of the initiative, TikTok appointed Dr. Claire Kinuthia as one of its African Mental Health Ambassadors, helping to ensure Kenyan users have access to trusted and culturally relevant resources on the platform.

With Kenya’s rapidly growing digital population and increasing concern over online risks, TikTok says it is investing heavily in corporate responsibility, digital safety regulation, and tech-driven public health tools.

“We recognise the evolving challenges of Kenya’s digital landscape and are committed to supporting young people through safe, inclusive, and empowering content experiences,” the company said.