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On June 7, 2025, WeBlog232 posted on Facebook that Chief Minister Sengeh announced that TikTok has begun monetising content in Sierra Leone, enabling local creators to earn money directly from the platform. Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, shared the update on his official page.
However, the announcement drew mixed reactions quickly. Some users questioned its authenticity, with others comparing it to Facebook’s monetisation model. So, is TikTok in reality paying creators in Sierra Leone now?
This explainer breaks down the evidence, the scepticism, and facts, backed by publicly available data and direct sources.
What is TikTok Monetisation?
TikTok Monetisation includes tools that allow creators to earn income from their content. These include the TikTok Creator Rewards Program (formerly the Creator Fund), love Gifts and tipping, TikTok Series (for paid content), Brand deals and sponsorships (off-platform)
To qualify, a user typically must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Have at least 10,000 followers
- Meet minimum engagement thresholds
- Live in a monetised region
Until recently, Sierra Leone was not included in TikTok’s monetised regions, meaning users in the country couldn’t benefit even if they met the other requirements.
What Did the Chief Minister Say?
In a post on June 19, Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh announced that TikTok’s monetisation features are now available in Sierra Leone. He shared a screenshot of his TikTok dashboard, which showed he had earned $0.38 from 6,093 views. The interface displayed “Sierra Leone” as the country.
He wrote:
“TikTok is now monetised in Sierra Leone! Content creators can now start earning from their videos right here in the country.”
The Minister of Education and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, later supported his post, sharing a link to an article by the tech and lifestyle platform Sierraloaded confirming the same.
Why Are Some People Saying It’s Fake?
The confusion stems from a Facebook post featuring Sierra Leonean content creator Fantasy Wizz, who argued that Facebook monetisation has always been technically available in Sierra Leone. The real barrier is the Meta information clause, which includes strict ID verification, tax compliance, and payout setup.
This prompted some to believe the TikTok announcement was overhyped, or that monetisation had always been available, just like on Facebook. This also resulted in mixed reactions from followers on the original post. Below is a screenshot showing this mixed reaction.
But the two platforms work differently.
Facebook’s monetisation may have existed in theory, but practical access has been blocked for many creators due to regional limitations and compliance issues. TikTok, by contrast, has only just enabled monetisation for Sierra Leone, as demonstrated by the Chief Minister’s verified screenshot. Screenshotted below.
Is this really the first time TikTok is paying creators in Sierra Leone?
Yes. TikTok had not previously allowed monetisation from Sierra Leone. There is no record of TikTok payouts to creators in the country before this announcement. The platform typically rolls out monetisation features gradually, country by country.
The Chief Minister’s screenshot showing an actual payout amount—albeit small—is strong proof that the feature is now live. No such in-app earnings interface would appear if Sierra Leone were not monetised. Sierraloaded’s coverage reported such a statement from the Chief Minister.
This development is significant because Sierra Leone is now recognised in TikTok’s monetisation ecosystem. Local creators can earn revenue from their content without relocating. This supports the government’s digital economy and innovation goals and may inspire YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and other platforms to expand regional monetisation. The Chief Minister described it as a “boost to Sierra Leone’s creative economy.”
Conclusion
Yes, TikTok monetisation is now active in Sierra Leone. Chief Minister David Sengeh’s announcement is genuine, backed by in-app evidence, public verification by another government official, and trusted tech reporting.
The confusion likely arose from misunderstandings around Facebook monetisation, which has long been limited by technical and compliance barriers. In contrast, TikTok’s activation in Sierra Leone is new and verifiable, and it signals meaningful inclusion in the global creator economy.
This marks a major step forward for young digital creators in the country.
