SyriaTikTok raises livestreaming age to 18 to protect children from exploitation after child begging on platform becomes widespread in camps for displaced people
A BBC News investigation in October 2022 found hundreds of accounts going live from Syrian refugee camps, with children begging for donations. The investigation alleged that TikTok was taking up to 70% of the proceeds.
The BBC found hundreds of accounts going live from Syrian refugee camps, with children begging for donations, facilitated by so-called "TikTok middlemen", who provided families with the phones and equipment to go live. The children asked for virtual gifts, but they cost the viewers real money and can be withdrawn from the app as cash. Livestream viewers send the gifts - ranging from digital roses, costing a few cents, to virtual lions costing around $500 - to reward or tip creators for content.
Following the investigation, TikTok raised its minimum age for livestreaming.
TikTok's rules say you must not directly solicit for gifts and must "prevent the harm, endangerment or exploitation" of minors on the platform.