TikTok states that it takes 1000 followers for a user to go live on TikTok. However, it may vary across regions. Another requirement for going Live on TikTok is that you must be at least 18 or 19 if you live in South Korea.
There is much buzz regarding the number of followers you need. Some even say you can go live with less than 1,000 followers, but how true is that?
Let’s find out with our detailed research!
Overview: How Many Followers Do You Need To Go Live on TikTok?
TikTok has specific rules for users going live. You can take a look at them in the table below for a summary:
| Parameters | Going Live on TikTok |
|---|---|
| Followers | 1,000 followers |
| Verified Age | 18 years old minimum (or 19 in South Korea) |
However, there are instances where people with less than a thousand followers could go live on TikTok within this past year.
There is no solid explanation for how this was possible. We will discuss this later in the article.
Can You Go Live On At 100 Followers On TikTok?
You can go live on TikTok, but it depends on the region in which you live. Plus, factors like engagement and the health of your account (no fake followers) can also be a deciding factor.
Currently, few users can now go live on TikTok, even with 100 followers. However, around a year ago, the option to go live was only available to users with a minimum of 1,000 followers.
This has changed recently, as users reported getting the TikTok Live feature after reaching 100 followers. The comment is shown in the image below.
A few more Reddit users are saying that they could go live before hitting the 1k followers mark:
You can find the original post and comments here.
Why Can’t I Go Live On TikTok?
If you are unable to go live on TikTok, even with the latest updates to the eligibility criteria, it must be due to one of the following reasons:
1. You Do Not Have The Necessary Amount Of Followers
TikTok allows users to livestream only if they have more than 1,000 followers.
This criteria has changed in the past year, as a few users could go live despite having fewer than a thousand followers.
If you still cannot go live on the platform, your best bet is to increase your follower count to increase your chances of accessing the live feature.
2. You Are Below The Age Of 18
TikTok only allows users over 18 to go live on its platform. You will have to confirm your age to be able to go live on the platform. So, when you initiate a live for the first time, you might be asked to confirm your age by:
- Uploading a selfie with a government-issued ID
- Credit Card Authorization
- Via Facial age estimation
You can choose any of the above options, and once your age is verified, you can go live on the platform.
How To Go Live On TikTok?
You can go live on TikTok if you have at least 1,000 followers and are above 18. Follow the steps listed below:
Step 1: Launch the TikTok app on your device.
Step 2: Tap on the create icon resembling a (+). It is at the bottom of your screen.
Step 3: From the options, select “Live.”
Step 4: You will now see a preview of your video feed. Here, you can customize it by adding a title to your livestream, disabling or enabling the comments, applying effects and filters, polls, and sharing your live stream on other social media handles or through messages.
Step 5: Lastly, whenever you are ready, click on the “Go LIVE” option to start streaming.
Note: Some users can access the TikTok Live feature even before reaching 1,000 followers.
How To Go Live On TikTok Without 1000 Followers?
Even without 1,000 followers, you can follow these four ways to go live on TikTok:
1. Growing Your Following Organically
Growing your followers is the most straightforward approach to getting the TikTok live option. Different users can go live at different follower counts, and the comments under this Reddit post confirm it.
You can organically grow your TikTok followers by:
- Posting educational content
- Posting entertaining videos
- Posting viral news
- Posting viral products and product reviews
- Engaging with other people’s content
Pro Tip: No matter what kind of content you choose to post on your TikTok account, for faster results, you should stick to a specific niche. This will position you as an authority for that niche over time, which will help you gain followers at a faster rate.
2. Applying To Go Live On TikTok
Another way to go live with less than 1,000 followers is to fill out this form to access TikTok’s ‘Go Live’ feature. With it, you get access to the Live Studio, TikTok’s dedicated streaming service.
Although the standard guideline for going live is 1000 followers, and you stream consistently on the other platforms, you can fill out the form linked above.
You’ll need to log in first, after which you can fill out the form to access Live Studio. Initially, the users have 14 days of access to the live studio, and if they stream for more than 25 minutes two times in the last 14 days, the access can be extended to 180 days.
3. The New TikTok Update
Recently, TikTok has randomly started giving live access even to users with less than 1,000 followers.
Look at the following screenshot, where the user comments on how it takes 1,000 followers to go live on TikTok. A year later, he agrees that something has changed with the algorithm after another user tells him how he saw people with less than a thousand followers do lives.
Some users might purchase fake followers to hit the initial 1,000-follower threshold to get access to the TikTok live feature.
Purchasing them can put your account at risk of suspension, and even if you were to bypass the scrutiny, the fake followers would not engage with any of your posts, leading to a significant follower engagement gap.
Can You Go Live With A Guest That Doesn’t Have 1,000 Followers?
You cannot go live with a guest even if they have more than a thousand followers and you do not. You can only go live if the host and guest have more than 1k TikTok followers.
However, there are rare instances where people with 1,000 followers could go live on the platform. As said, these are “rare,” which means they cannot be applied to the general public.
I have compiled screenshots of a few Reddit thread comments where people could go live on TikTok with less than 1,000 followers.
Looking at the comments above, it is likely that TikTok has made some policy changes within the last year or so, allowing selective users with less than 1k followers to go live.
TikTok’s official help center page under the “Who can use LIVE on TikTok?” heading also lists that even though you need 1,000 followers to go live, the regions may vary.
I also found some users speculating that the reason for the access to the live feature might be better engagement with their posts. You can check the entire Reddit thread here.
Summary: It Takes 1,000 Followers To Go Live On TikTok
Traditionally, it required 1,000 followers to go live on TikTok. However, some people have reported getting the “You Can Now Go Live” notification on their accounts even when they were well below that number.
The official TikTok help center page also states that the criteria for 1,000 followers may vary based on the region. There is no exact answer for how people got the option to go live.
Amidst the uncertainty, you can fill out the live studio form and wait for access to be granted, or if you can wait a little longer, you can organically grow on the platform and let the feature unlock itself.
FAQs
TikTok launched its Creativity Program in February 2023. Users can be paid through it if they have a minimum of 10,000 followers and 100,000 views in the last 30 days.
Some users have reported getting live features access around the 500 followers mark. However, the official TikTok help center page lists a 1,000 follower count and a bracketed note that “may vary across regions.”
It is not so safe if you purchase TikTok followers. TikTok’s community guidelines clearly state that they will detect and remove all the fake followers and likes once they find out. Sometimes, it can also lead to a permanent ban on your account.
The moderators are the users chosen by the live streamers to help them manage the chats during the live stream. Moderators can mute viewers, block comments, and enforce community guidelines on the creator’s behalf.
You can adjust the live tools and settings by tapping the “More” button at the bottom of your screen and selecting the “Settings” option. Here, you can filter or turn on/off the comments, add moderators, access audience controls, and more.
