Why TikTok banned 11-year-old Lacey M and how the age limit affects young stars

Lacey M lost her TikTok account with 1.7 million followers because she is only 11 years old. This is much younger than the 13-year-old limit set by the app.

The sudden removal of Lacey M, an 11-year-old child who gained over 1.7 million followers on TikTok in less than a year, has raised questions about how young children are managed online. While her videos showing makeup and dancing made her a star, they also brought her into a world of high-stakes business deals. Her partnership with the makeup brand P.Louise, owned by Paige Williams, and a recent birthday event that left some parents unhappy, have placed her family's choices under public review. This case highlights a struggle between digital fame and the rules set by social media companies to protect children.

Why 11-year-old influencer Lacey M has REALLY been banned from TikTok, how she was 'exploited' by P.Louise and relatives... and the worrying new plan for her, by MOLLY CLAYTON - 1

"All she’s been doing is making money for her parents." — Molly Clayton, Investigative Reporter

Chronology of Events

DateEventDetails
September 2024Account LaunchLacey begins posting "Get Ready With Me" videos and dances.
March/April 2025Brand ExpansionPromotes WEARARI at Foot Asylum; appears in videos with her mother.
May 2025P.Louise PartnershipSigned as a brand ambassador; launches her own makeup collection.
June 2025Birthday PartyA sold-out event at BOXPARK Liverpool with £38 tickets.
June 2025TikTok BanThe account is removed, reportedly due to age limit violations.

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The core issue involves the conflict between a child’s rapid rise to fame and TikTok's safety rule that users must be at least 13 years old.

Why 11-year-old influencer Lacey M has REALLY been banned from TikTok, how she was 'exploited' by P.Louise and relatives... and the worrying new plan for her, by MOLLY CLAYTON - 2

Analysis of the P.Louise Partnership

The relationship between Lacey M and Paige Williams, the owner of P.Louise, was a major part of the child's career. Lacey did not just use the products; she acted as a "brand ambassador."

Why 11-year-old influencer Lacey M has REALLY been banned from TikTok, how she was 'exploited' by P.Louise and relatives... and the worrying new plan for her, by MOLLY CLAYTON - 3
  • Business Role: Lacey hosted TikTok Live videos where she showed viewers how to use makeup and asked them to buy items.

  • Product Launch: The brand released a specific collection under Lacey’s name.

  • Visual Image: At her birthday, Lacey arrived in a McLaren supercar, a vehicle often linked to the P.Louise brand’s wealthy image.

Was this a simple hobby for a child, or was a minor being used as a professional sales tool for an adult-owned company?

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Why 11-year-old influencer Lacey M has REALLY been banned from TikTok, how she was 'exploited' by P.Louise and relatives... and the worrying new plan for her, by MOLLY CLAYTON - 4

The Liverpool Birthday Event

On a Sunday in June, a party was held at BOXPARK in Liverpool to celebrate Lacey turning 12. While the event sold out, the feedback from those who paid to attend was mixed.

  1. The Cost: Parents paid £38 per ticket to bring their children to see the influencer.

  2. Behavioral Concerns: Some attendees reported that Lacey used foul language (swearing) while on stage, which they felt was not right for a young audience.

  3. Unmet Expectations: Some parents claimed their children were "upset" because they did not get to meet Lacey despite the ticket price.

  4. Supporter Views: Other guests posted online that they enjoyed the event and supported the young star.

Platform Rules and the Permanent Ban

TikTok has a strict policy: users must be 13. Lacey is 11, turning 12. This creates a clear violation of the platform's terms of service.

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  • Account Status: The account, which had 1.7 million followers, is now gone.

  • Workarounds: Reports suggest Lacey and her mother are looking for other ways to stay on social media.

  • Peer Comparison: Lacey has recently appeared with another young influencer, Carly (12), who uses a joint account with her father, Ryan Pollock, to follow platform rules.

Does the involvement of a parent make a child’s presence on a 13+ platform acceptable, or should the age rule be absolute?

Expert Analysis: Reported Findings

Molly Clayton, who has tracked the influencer market, suggests that the "fame" Lacey achieved was "spectacularly imploding" due to the gap between her real age and her online persona.

  • Financial Gain: Analysis suggests the primary winners in this situation were the adults—both the brand owners and the family members—who profited from the livestreams and product sales.

  • Safety: Investigators point out that the high-security lifestyle of brand owners like Paige Williams (who is building a "fortress" mansion) stands in contrast to the public exposure of the child influencers they hire.

Summary of Findings

The investigation shows that Lacey M was operating as a high-level professional influencer while still being a legal minor below the platform's age limit. The ban by TikTok appears to be a direct result of these age rules being enforced. While the brand P.Louise provided Lacey with a platform and luxury experiences, it also placed her in a professional sales role that many believe is too much for a 12-year-old.

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Next Steps:

  • Monitoring if the family attempts to restart the account under a "parent-managed" label.

  • Observing if brands like P.Louise change how they use child ambassadors following the public pushback from the Liverpool event.

Primary Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did TikTok remove Lacey M's account in June 2025?
TikTok removed the account because Lacey M is only 11 years old. The app has a strict rule that all users must be at least 13 years old to have their own page.
Q: Why were parents unhappy with Lacey M's birthday party at BOXPARK Liverpool?
Parents paid £38 for tickets but said their children did not get to meet Lacey. Some parents also complained that the 11-year-old used bad language while she was on the stage.
Q: What was the business deal between Lacey M and the makeup brand P.Louise?
Lacey M worked as a brand ambassador for P.Louise and sold her own makeup collection. She used TikTok Live videos to show products to her 1.7 million followers to help the brand make money.
Q: Will Lacey M return to social media after her TikTok ban?
Lacey and her mother are looking for new ways to stay online. They might try to use a parent-managed account, which is how some other young stars follow the platform rules to stay safe.