What TikTok's new Guidelines mean for LIVE creators and AI content

Creators are now held accountable for anything that occurs during their TikTok Live sessions that may lead to account restrictions.

Illustration: Tech Bird

Important news has just been announced for the TikTok creator community: the company has introduced a set of updated community guidelines for its short-form video platform. TikTok is bringing changes to several key sections, with a particular focus on LIVE creators and AI content. While these updates may seem subtle, it is crucial for every creator to understand them.

Earlier this week, TikTok officially rolled out its updated Community Guidelines. These new rules will directly affect your visibility and ranking on the platform, as adherence to them is a vital signal for their algorithm. The company's goal in updating these guidelines is to enhance the overall user experience and improve transparency, particularly regarding AI-generated content. A key reason for the introduction of these new policies is to ensure compliance with a wave of global regulations, such as the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA), the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), and the U.S.’s TAKE IT DOWN Act.

Key Updates for LIVE Streaming and Creator Accountability

The most significant update to the Community Guidelines pertains to TikTok Live sessions. While most of the rules for other content types remain similar to the previous version, the new regulations place a heightened level of responsibility on the live host. Creators are now accountable for any content that appears during their live session, even if it is generated by a third-party tool.

TikTok's official statement clarifies this, explaining, "Even when it involves third-party tools like voice-to-text software, real-time translation, or on-screen comment displays... if a voice-to-text tool reads out a harmful comment, the creator is still accountable for enabling that feature." The company strongly advises TikTok creators to actively monitor and manage any tool they use to prevent policy violations and potential account restrictions.

New Rules for Transparency and TikTok Shop

For the sake of truth and transparency, TikTok now mandates that creators "must" disclose commercial content during live streams. A particularly interesting aspect of the updated guidelines is TikTok's new policy on promoting its e-commerce platform. The company now officially encourages users to buy from products available through TikTok Shop and may reduce the visibility of content that promotes off-platform commercial products in regions where TikTok Shop is available.

Clarity on AI-Generated Content

The newly updated Community Guidelines also address the growing use of AI-generated content. While TikTok welcomes the creativity that AI brings, all such content must now be clearly labeled as "AI-generated" for reasons of trustworthiness and transparency. The change in the new guidelines is primarily a refinement in wording, moving away from the term "deepfakes" to a broader and more specific policy. The new rule states: "Even with labels, some edited or AI-generated content can still be harmful. We don’t allow content that’s misleading about matters of public importance or harmful to individuals." This means that even with a label, content that is misleading or harmful will be removed.

How TikTok's Algorithm Personalizes Your Feed

As is common with all social platforms, everyone's experience is unique. The new guidelines officially document that search results and content recommendations are tailored to each individual based on their previous activity. The company explains this change by stating that "some content that’s allowed on TikTok may not be suitable for all audiences." Additionally, content from reliable and verified sources may now be highlighted and listed at the top of search results to ensure users are getting accurate information.