TikTok profits from advertisements promoting illegal drugs

An investigation by Forbes journalist Iain Martin has revealed that TikTok is generating advertising revenue from content promoting illegal drugs and dangerous prescription medications. The platform’s advertising system has allowed the black market to bypass safety algorithms to promote substances including cocaine, methamphetamine, cannabis, and potent opioids such as Percocet.

Other promoted items include benzodiazepines like Xanax and Valium, as well as stimulants such as Adderall. In a controlled experiment using a test account, Forbes received promotional advertisements from 21 different drug sellers within just two weeks.

One advertiser, ‘ScarfaceWorldwide’, targeted users in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands interested in general topics like education and shopping. The advertiser’s profile featured videos of cocaine and directed users to Telegram to purchase quantities up to one kilogram, with shipments to the United States being disguised within furniture packaging.