The suspension of the live feature on the social media platform TikTok has sparked debate among the public. The move came during a series of demonstrations, where citizens widely used TikTok Live to share and access real-time information from the ground. Many demonstrators had relied on the feature to broadcast live updates, making the suspension appear as an effort to stifle freedom of expression.
UGM Communication Lecturer, Syaifa Tania, expressed regret over the suspension, noting that TikTok Live could serve as an important medium for citizen journalism.
“Disabling this feature has deprived the public of a vital channel to share information directly,” said Tania on Wednesday (Sep. 3).
TikTok Live enables information to be delivered in real time, with minimal intervention or censorship, and reaches a wide digital audience. The speed at which information spreads through this feature often surpasses that of mainstream media.
The government has clarified that the policy originated from the platform itself. The stated aim is to prevent the spread of violent content, hate speech, and similar material. However, this has left the public reliant on mainstream media.
“Yet in the current situation, people actually need platforms that facilitate more open communication,” Tania explained.
She further noted that social media platforms today serve as digital meeting points, enabling the public to connect and collectively express their views. The suspension of the live feature, therefore, could have implications for citizens’ right to free expression.
Beyond its social impact, suspending TikTok Live also affects the digital economy. Many micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and affiliates rely on TikTok Shop and its live feature as a primary marketing channel, which this policy has disrupted.
“I believe this needs to be addressed wisely,” Tania added.
She emphasized that policies to ensure public safety through platform content moderation must also safeguard the continuity of the digital economy. Decisions should be based on proportional principles, such as identifying which features pose risks, setting reasonable durations for service suspension, and ensuring transparency about the rationale behind the policy.
“To sustain the digital economy, optimizing the Shop feature through diverse marketing mechanisms is necessary,” she explained.
As a preventive measure, Tania advised businesses to diversify their communication channels. Diversifying marketing media, she argued, is key to maintaining digital economic activity.
“Dependence on a single platform creates vulnerability for MSMEs. Developing a variety of promotional channels is essential,” she said.
She also encouraged MSMEs to explore other live features available on various social media and e-commerce platforms, while designing non-live promotional media, such as catalogs, reels, and product reviews, as alternative tactics.
“Even if promotional efforts may seem most effective on one particular platform, it is important to diversify across multiple platforms. This will not only reduce risks but also help expand market reach,” the lecturer concluded.
Author: Jelita Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Illustration: artplusmarketing.com
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya