TikTok says that this is evidenced in its proactive efforts to remove content that violates its Community Guidelines. In the third quarter, TikTok removed as many as 928 334 videos in South Africa from the platform for guideline violations. 83.6% of these videos were removed within 24 hours.

With over a billion people using TikTok globally and millions of pieces of content posted every day, TikTok adds that it continues to invest in technologies which improve content understanding and assess potential risks, allowing the platform to remove harmful content before it reaches viewers.

From July to September 2024 globally, the platform removed over 147 million videos and of these, 118 million were removed through automation.

With a proactive detection rate now at 98.2% globally, TikTok says that it is more efficient at addressing harmful content before users encounter it. In South Africa, more than 97.9% of all content was removed before a community member reported it to TikTok. The most enforced policies were:

  • Regulated Goods and Commercial Activities, with 96.9% of removals happening before any user report
  • Sensitive and Mature Themes, with 99.5% of removals happening before any user report, and
  • Mental and Behavioural Health, with 99.8% of removals happening before any user report.

TikTok says that its commitment to transparency and platform safety remains at the forefront, ensuring a secure environment for its diverse user base across South Africa and globally.

TikTok concludes that it remains committed to inspiring creativity and bringing joy while prioritising the safety and well-being of its South African community. By employing dedicated trust and safety professionals and leveraging advanced technology, the platform says it ensures compliance with its robust Community Guidelines, Terms of Service and Advertising Policies, which apply to all content on its platform.

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 contributor