The company announced this week that TikTok plans to add an adult option to its live streaming, limiting the audience to those 18 and older. This live video setting will roll out in the coming weeks and is part of a larger set of changes, including a higher minimum age to begin live streaming. TikTok said it is making these changes to protect “younger members” of the community as they build their own online presence.
Details were not provided on what this setting for live streaming will look like, but TikTok said it will be “a new way for creators to choose whether they prefer to reach an audience that is made up of adults only.” However, that doesn’t mean creators can create inappropriate content free from any guidelines. TikTok explained the use case for the feature and gave some examples of topics that would be better suited for an adult audience.
“For example, a comedy routine might be better suited for people over 18,” a TikTok announcement about the updated content settings for live streaming reads. “Or a host might be planning a conversation about a difficult life experience and would feel more comfortable knowing the conversation is limited to adults. We want our community to make the most of the opportunities LIVE offers without compromising safety. We believe these industry-leading updates can further protect younger members of our community as they begin and build their online presence.”
This change is accompanied by another update that will not be optional, unlike this setting that limits viewers to those 18 and older. TikTok is raising the minimum age to host live broadcasts from 16 to 18.
“Given the broadness of our global audience, we are already taking a phased approach to the features our community can access based on age; younger teens must be at least 16 to access Direct Messaging and at least 18 to send virtual gifts or access monetization features.” – TikTok’s announcement states.
NOTES
TikTok has not provided specific dates as to when these changes will be rolled out.
