Online prostitution on TikTok is becoming a serious problem as the platform increasingly turns into a space for illegal transactions.
Previously, these activities hid behind multiple accounts and private groups, even linking to external apps and platforms. Cybersecurity experts initially warned that despite efforts to block these actions, loopholes remained and prostitution continued underground, making it hard to detect. Now, users are shocked to see many TikTok accounts openly selling sex services without hesitation. One blunt sales pitch read, “Fresh seafood 45kg, available live on stream.”
It’s important to remember that like other social networks, TikTok has strict advertising policies. One key rule bans products, services, and entertainment related to adult content. Specifically, TikTok forbids promoting, selling, soliciting, or facilitating access to pornographic material, adult entertainment venues like strip clubs, sexual services including escorting, prostitution, and erotic massage, or anything similar.
However, these ads still slip through without effective blocking. Users can only manually report or block such ads while using the app. Even if accounts get banned, offenders quickly return with new profiles.
Recently, many users scrolling through entertainment videos have reported encountering livestreams openly advertising prostitution. Shockingly, these streams appear in the recommended feed labeled as “sponsored.” The “matchmakers” openly livestream and post prices without any fear.
According to TikTok’s community guidelines page, the platform has developed tools and technology to identify and remove harmful content and violations. Yet, this system seems ineffective as explicit content easily bypasses rules and appears openly.
Content creators pushing explicit material often insert dots or slashes between letters of sensitive words to dodge filters. Another trick is altering characters to change the structure of banned terms. This raises a question: what is TikTok’s moderation team in Vietnam doing if just adding a few dots lets videos slip through?
Users are waiting for TikTok to explain why prostitution services are spreading so widely on the platform. Is TikTok simply ignoring the problem?
