Indonesian women’s rights groups demand better protections against misogyny and harassment for livestream hosts
When TikTok’s e-commerce platform launched in 2021, Indonesia became one of its biggest markets. Even after a temporary ban in 2023, TikTok live shopping
today is ubiquitous. But these livestreams, usually hosted by women, have
become a cesspool of harassment and misogyny.
In a feature for Konde.co, Indonesian writer Dulce Maria Bella Natalie highlights the mental and physical toll on women sellers, who can talk live on camera for hours at a time to describe their products and answer an influx of customer questions.
TikTok live hosting is a growing career path for young people in Indonesia, where unemployment remains a major economic challenge. A 2025 study by Tokopedia analyzed over 786,000 vacancies, of which more than 10,000 were specifically for TikTok live hosting.
But the job is far from easy. Live hosts often work long hours to reach sky-high sales targets. TikTok’s poor comment moderating means hosts regularly see unfiltered harassment and hate speech on their pages. This includes inappropriate insults and comments about the host’s body, which can escalate to violent and sexual remarks that in some cases have led to online stalking and doxing.
Several TikTok live hosts recounted these experiences at a conference held in May by Perempuan Mahardhika, an organisation that supports female students and workers across Indonesia. Gig economy researcher Anindya Desi Wulansari says female hosts need to grapple with the gendered dynamics of an unpredictable algorithm while holding users’ limited attention spans to maximize sales.
“With technology, it’s easy [for companies] to focus on the numbers to determine
output. But what should be the responsibility of the company [sales] now lies
in the hands of the hosts,” she said.
Live hosts also have to maintain a reputable image for the online store by keeping a smile and friendly demeanour, despite the constant harassment and unstable income.
Groups like Perempuan Mahardhika can help workers find community in a dehumanising industry, and share ideas about how to protect and advocate for themselves. But there is much to be done.
The experiences of Indonesia’s female TikTok live hosts are a reminder that
misogyny persists online – and that further protections are needed to create
safer working conditions for women. Digital misogyny shouldn’t be synonymous
with content creation.
Dulce ends her piece by commending the resilience of the women hosting these livestreams, and argues that internet safety for digital workers needs to be addressed by corporations and governments alike.
The original article, ‘Di Balik Maraknya Tren Live Shopping, Ada Pelecehan
Terhadap Host Live’ was first published in Indonesian by Dulce Maria Bella Natalie in Konde.co on June 12, 2026.
Konde.co is an Indonesian publication that highlights the perspectives of women, with an emphasis on marginalized communities and intersectionality.
Summary by Anggi Pande
