Released April 17, 2024
Effective May 17, 2024
TikTok provides content that ranges from very family friendly to more mature. Given the diversity of our global community, developmental and cultural considerations inform our approach to potentially sensitive and more mature content that may be considered offensive by some. To honor our principle of respecting local context and not imposing the norms of one country on another, some of the applications of the guidelines in this section differ across regions.
TikTok is a place where you can come to discuss or learn about sexuality, sex, or reproductive health. We are mindful that certain content may not be suitable for young people, may be considered offensive by some, or may create the potential for exploitation. We do not allow sexual activity or services. This includes sex, sexual arousal, fetish and kink behavior, and seeking or offering sexual services. However, it does not include reproductive health and sex education content.
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Fetish and kink behavior includes BDSM (bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadism, and masochism), and sexual behaviors with non-human objects or with specific body parts (such as a foot fetish).
Reproductive health means the physical, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes.
Sex education means a broad variety of topics related to sex, sexuality, sexual health, and relationships.
NOT ALLOWED
ALLOWED
We celebrate all shapes and sizes and want you to feel comfortable in how you present yourself and your body. We understand societies approach body exposure and clothing differently, so we seek to reflect prevailing cultural practices. We do not allow nudity. This includes bare genitalia, buttocks, breasts of women and girls, and sheer clothing.
We want to provide young people with an experience that is developmentally suitable. We do not allow semi-nudity or significant body exposure of young people. Content is ineligible for the FYF if it shows body exposure of a young person that may present a risk of uninvited sexualization.
We also do not want to amplify content that may not be suitable for a wide audience. Content is restricted (18 years and older) and is ineligible for the FYF if it shows semi-nudity of an adult. We allow regional exceptions for body exposure in limited situations, such as cultural practices.
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Nudity means being unclothed and showing bare intimate body parts that prevailing cultural practices indicate should be fully covered. This includes bare breasts of women and girls, but not of men and boys (including those who are transgender or intersex), or people who are non-binary. We recognize that some individuals do not describe their gender in binary terms, and acknowledge the complexity of applying this policy. When reviewing such content, we look at how someone self-describes using first-party information and indicators, such as captions, hashtags, or bio, and then may also look at how the person presents.
Intimate body parts means genitalia, buttocks, and breasts (including nipple and areola).
Semi-nudity means being mostly unclothed and close to (but not actually) nude, such as implied nudity or wearing clothes that minimally cover intimate body parts.
Significant body exposure means being clothed but having partially uncovered intimate body parts or only wearing intimate clothing, such as underwear.
NOT ALLOWED
RESTRICTED (18 years and older)
FYF INELIGIBLE
ALLOWED
We welcome you to creatively express yourself, celebrate your culture, or seek to entertain. We are mindful that certain behaviors related to sexual arousal or suggestiveness may be offensive to some people and may put young people at risk of exploitation. We do not allow content by young people that intends to be sexually suggestive. This includes intimate kissing, sexualized framing, or sexualized behavior. We also do not allow sexually explicit language by anyone. We do allow some artistic content with sexual references, such as song lyrics.
Content is restricted (18 years and older) and ineligible for the FYF if it shows intimate kissing, sexualized framing, or sexualized behavior by adults, or if it shows sex products.
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Intent is referenced to be clear that other people finding you sexually arousing is not against the rules. However, we also acknowledge that intent can be subjective. To help us understand it, we use objective indicators, including a bio, hashtags, captions (such as "do you like what you see"), or sounds (such as moaning). We also recognize that different regions have varying views on what is considered sexually suggestive, which also informs our assessment.
Intimate body parts means genitalia, buttocks, and breasts (including nipple and areola).
Intimate kissing means kissing that may indicate sexual arousal or the beginning of a sexual interaction.
Sexualized framing means content that intentionally emphasizes clothed intimate body parts through techniques, such as filming, editing, or positioning of the body in front of the camera.
Sexualized behavior means behavior that is intended to be sexually arousing, including performances or repetitive body movements emphasizing intimate body parts, and imitating sexual acts.
Sex product means an object or device that is designed to be used for sexual pleasure, such as a sex toy.
NOT ALLOWED
RESTRICTED (18 years and older)
FYF INELIGIBLE
ALLOWED
Part of the joy of TikTok is coming across new and unexpected content. But the platform is not a place to intentionally shock, upset, or disgust others. We recognize this type of content may be triggering, cause psychological harm, or lead to extreme discomfort. We do not allow gory, gruesome, disturbing, or extremely violent content.
Content is restricted (18 years and older) and ineligible for the FYF if it shows human or animal blood, extreme physical fighting, or graphic footage of events that would otherwise violate our rules but are in the public interest to view. Content is also ineligible for the FYF if it shows fictional graphic violence or potentially distressing or mildly graphic material.
To help you manage your TikTok experience, we apply an "opt-in" screen or warning information to some content, such as human or animal blood, wild animals attacking each other, professional fighting, or potentially distressing or mildly graphic material.
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NOT ALLOWED
RESTRICTED (18 years and older)
FYF INELIGIBLE
ALLOWED
TikTok is a place that respects animals and celebrates the ways that they enrich our lives across different cultures and regions. We do not allow animal abuse, cruelty, neglect, trade, or other forms of animal exploitation.
Learn more about animal abuse, including how to contact animal welfare organizations in your region.
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NOT ALLOWED
ALLOWED