New data reveals the UK to be among the top 10 countries with the highest percentage of TikTok video removals

A recent analysis of TikTok data conducted by AI Digital family safety app Canopy.us has unveiled intriguing insights into the prevalence of video removals across various countries.

TikTok, a platform known for its diverse content, has been the subject of scrutiny and content moderation efforts worldwide. This data offers a snapshot into TikTok video removals as a percentage of the population of TikTok users in different nations. 

Below is a breakdown of the top ten countries with the highest video removals, spanning from January to March 2023: 

1. Pakistan – 70.91% TikTok video removal rate
2. Azerbaijan – 65.30% TikTok video removal rate
3. Dominican Republic – 21.70% TikTok video removal rate
4. United Kingdom – 19.65% TikTok video removal rate
5. Cambodia – 17.33% TikTok video removal rate
6. Algeria – 14.48% TikTok video removal rate
7. Turkey – 13.36% TikTok video removal rate
8. Israel – 12.75% TikTok video removal rate
9. Saudi Arabia – 11.85% TikTok video removal rate
10. Philippines – 10.43% TikTok video removal rate
    

Pakistan emerges as the country with the highest percentage of TikTok video removals compared to its TikTok user population, with a staggering 70.91%. A massive 11,707,020 TikTok videos were removed in Pakistan compared to its 16,510,000 TikTok users. This underscores the significant content moderation efforts within the platform to align with local regulations. 

Azerbaijan ranks second, with 65.30% of TikTok videos removed relative to its TikTok user base. This suggests a pronounced effort to enforce content guidelines in the region. 

The data showcases a wide variability in TikTok video removal rates, with countries like the United Kingdom (19.65%), the Dominican Republic (21.70%), and Cambodia (17.33%) also experiencing notable removal percentages. Some countries, including Japan (1.32%), Morocco (2.36%), and South Africa (2.52%), exhibit relatively lower TikTok video removal rates, highlighting variances in content moderation practices worldwide. 

In countries with large TikTok user populations, such as the United States (8.53%) and Indonesia (8.56%), addressing content violations presents significant challenges given the scale of user-generated content. 

Why have these videos been removed? 

TikTok’s Community Guidelines Enforcement Report outlines the reasons for global TikTok video removal between January and March 2023. Below is a breakdown of TikTok videos removed based on policy violations, with the following key categories and their respective percentages: 

1. Minor safety - 30.6%
2. Illegal activities and regulated goods - 27.2%
3. Adult nudity and sexual activities - 14.7%
4. Violent and graphic content - 9.1%
5. Harassment and bullying - 5.3%
6. Dangerous acts and challenges - 5.2%
7. Suicide, self-harm and disordered eating - 3.1%
8. Hateful behaviour - 2.5%
9. Violent extremism - 1.4%
10. Integrity and authenticity - 1.0% 

This data highlights the primary policy violation categories that have led to TikTok videos being removed, with minor safety being the most prevalent.

A TikTok video could pose a threat to minor safety in several ways, and the platform needs to address these concerns through content moderation. Some of the ways in which a TikTok video could potentially threaten minor safety include predatory behavior, sharing personal information, cyberbullying, scams, and fraud.

TikTok's content moderation policies are designed to identify and remove videos that fall into these categories to protect the safety and well-being of minor users. Additionally, the platform encourages users to report any harmful or inappropriate content, allowing for a community-driven approach to identifying potential threats to minor safety. 

A spokesperson from Canopy.us commented on the findings:  “This data underscores the complexities associated with content moderation on a global scale. As a global platform, TikTok grapples with the delicate balance of adhering to local regulations and maintaining a vibrant and diverse content ecosystem.

“The varying percentages of video removals reflect the platform's ongoing efforts to address these challenges. The findings also shed light on the importance of region-specific content guidelines and the need for transparent and effective communication between platform operators, content creators, and regulatory authorities.” 

As TikTok continues to evolve, it remains imperative for the platform to adapt and refine its content moderation strategies to foster a safe and inclusive environment for users worldwide, particularly vulnerable minors. Parents of young TikTok users may take solace in this video removal data, as it suggests a strict removal of inappropriate content.” 

Total TikTok videos removed globally from January-March 2023