TikTok Updates Its Policies On Virtual Gifts To Protect Minors

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TikTok announced its policies around virtual gifting, allowing only users who are 18 and older to purchase, send, or receive virtual gifts.

TikTok has a virtual gifting feature that allows users to send virtual gifts to creator during their live-streams, as a way to support and reward them for their work. Up until now, users over 13 years of age were able to send virtual gifts, and users over 16 were able to receive them.

Now, as part of its efforts to maintain a safe environment for users of all ages and ensure its platform is not misused, TikTok has reviewed its policies related to “virtual gifting,” and has now limited the practice to users who are over 18.

“Although the feature is overwhelmingly used positively, we know we have a responsibility to improve our features and policies to protect against misuse. To help see that the gifting feature continues to be used appropriately and respectfully, we are announcing new age restrictions today,” explains Eric Han, Head of Safety at TikTok.

“We are making these changes to foster a safe environment where users of all ages can enjoy a live-stream without encountering misuse, such as any pressure to send virtual gifts.”

TikTok now only lets users 18 years old and older purchase, send, or receive virtual gifts on its platform.

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The 16+ age limit for a user to host a live-stream will remain, but TikTok’s updated virtual gifting policy will now only “allow those aged 18 and over to purchase, send, or receive virtual gifts.” TikTok’s virtual gift purchases take place through the App Store or Google Play, and any user’s settings regarding in-app purchases can be managed directly through either.

TikTok’s updated policies will start to roll out to users over the next few weeks. Furthermore, they will be effective “across all TikTok markets before the end of the year.”