As of early 2025, the issue of TikTok monetisation excluding African creators remains a significant concern.
African creators are not eligible for TikTok’s main monetisation programs like the TikTok Creator Fund and the Creativity Program.
These programs are primarily available to creators in countries such as the U.S., UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, and others, but not in African countries.
The exclusion means that African creators cannot benefit directly from video views or engagement through TikTok’s monetisation tools.
This has led to frustration among creators who contribute significantly to the platform’s content but see no financial returns from their work.
African creators have been turning to other platforms like YouTube, where monetisation is more accessible, or exploring other income streams such as brand deals outside of TikTok’s official programs, affiliate marketing, or using different apps like X (formerly Twitter), which have started monetising content for creators globally, including some in Africa.
The lack of monetisation has been criticised as digital exploitation, where African creativity drives platform growth and engagement but does not share in the financial benefits. This has sparked discussions about equity in the global digital economy.
There have been no announcements from TikTok indicating a change in policy regarding the inclusion of African countries in its monetisation programs as of the latest updates.
However, other platforms have started or are considering monetisation for creators in Africa, indicating some shifting dynamics in the creator economy.
On platforms like X, there’s a notable sentiment of frustration and calls for change among African users and creators, highlighting the disparity in monetization opportunities.
This situation underscores ongoing issues of digital inequality and the need for platforms like TikTok to address monetisation inclusivity to support creators worldwide.
