TikTok Live has become an enormously popular feature on the social media platform, and the interactive nature of the Live streams is one of the biggest draws for viewers. A few lucky TikTok users may occasionally be asked to join the host on screen, but everyone can join in via the chat function available for the sessions.
Some content creators running TikTok Lives may respond to the comments as they scroll, but the chat is still a great place for fans of the creator to exchange reactions, thoughts, and views. In most cases, comments in the sessions stay on topic and reasonably polite, although the services of a Live moderator are occasionally needed to keep things sane.
Some people find one aspect of TikTok Live comments annoying, however: the scrolling chat can cover an important part of the screen, particularly if the host is doing a tutorial, a show-and-tell, or product reveals or reviews. Here’s an important fact about the streams, though: it’s simple to hide the comments whenever you’d like.
Keep reading and we’ll reveal the secret. We’ll also explain, for new Live moderators, how to remove a comment that’s either not germane to the session’s topic or is offensive for some other reason.
Getting Rid of Comments on TikTok Live
The scrolling comments on a Live stream appear by default, but there are two ways you can hide them in a flash.
- Tap and hold on the screen, and a popup window will appear. The top option, “Clear display,” will get rid of all of the comments. To see them again, repeat the action and click “Show display.”
- Tap on the “Share” icon (the sweeping right arrow) at the bottom of the screen. Scroll the bottom row of icons on the popup to find “Clear display,” and click it. (The same action will let you choose “Show display” if you’ve hidden it.)
Simple, right?
Getting Rid of Comments as a TikTok Live Moderator
If it’s your first rodeo as a moderator for a live session on the app, your primary job is keeping order in the chat. Here’s what you need to know.
- To turn all comments on or off, tap the three-dot icon in the bottom right of the screen and use the toggle switch labeled “Turn Off (or On) Commenting.”
- To remove a specific comment, press and hold on the comment, and it will be deleted from the chat. To manage a specific commenter, tap their profile in the chat and then click “More.” That will give you the options of reporting a comment for review, muting them for a certain amount of time, or blocking them from watching and commenting.
If you’re wondering when those instructions might come in handy — you never know. Create lots of great TikTok content, and you might find yourself hosting or moderating a Live session one day!
About the Author
Peter Hasselworth is a contributor at iDigic, sharing valuable insights about Instagram growth and social media marketing strategies.