Should I let my child livestream?

Livestreaming carries significant risks for children, including real-time contact with strangers, pressure to perform or share personal information, and the possibility of inappropriate comments or requests. Most safety organisations recommend that children under 13 do not livestream at all. For older teenagers, strict privacy settings and parental awareness are essential.

Can I control who watches my child's livestream?

On some platforms, you can restrict livestreams to friends or followers only. However, the real-time nature of streaming means that moderation is extremely difficult. Even on restricted streams, viewers can send harmful messages or requests. Consider whether the risks outweigh the benefits for your child's age and maturity.

Livestreaming Apps — Safety Overview

A parent's guide to the risks and safety settings of popular livestreaming platforms used by children, including Twitch, TikTok Live, YouTube Live, and Instagram Live.

Official age

13+

We recommend

16+

Developer

Various

Risks

Direct messaging

In-app purchases

Live streaming

Overview

Livestreaming allows users to broadcast video in real time to an audience that can watch and interact through live chat. Platforms like Twitch, TikTok Live, YouTube Live, and Instagram Live are popular with young people. While livestreaming can be creative and social, it also presents serious safety concerns due to the real-time, unmoderated nature of the interaction.

How children use it

Children and teenagers watch livestreams of gaming, music, and creative content. Some also broadcast their own streams, sharing their gameplay, talents, or daily life with viewers. The interactive nature of live chat makes it feel more personal than pre-recorded content, which can lead to oversharing, parasocial relationships, and vulnerability to manipulation by viewers.

Main risks

grooming privacy oversharing harmful content online strangers

Recommended privacy settings

Who Can Go Live

Location: Varies by platform — age restrictions apply automatically on most

Set to: Disabled for under-16s where possible

Most platforms restrict livestreaming to users over 16 or 18. Ensure your child's account has an accurate date of birth so these restrictions apply correctly.

Live Chat Moderation

Location: Varies by platform — typically in Stream or Creator settings

Set to: Enabled with keyword filters and follower-only chat

Restricts who can send messages during a livestream and filters out inappropriate language. On Twitch, use AutoMod and chat rules. On TikTok, use keyword filters.

Gifts and Donations

Location: Varies by platform — found in Monetisation or Safety settings

Set to: Disabled for children

Some platforms allow viewers to send virtual gifts or donations during livestreams. This can encourage children to perform or share personal information to receive gifts. Disable this feature for child accounts.