What did you want to be when you grew up?
Maybe it was a doctor, a veterinarian, or an astronaut. While most of us have settled into careers far removed from what we dreamt of as children, today’s digitally native kids have slightly different aspirations. In a 2024 study, UK children aged 6 to 17 were asked which future profession they would most like to have. Along with “pro gamer” and “soccer player”, “streamer” came out on top.
Live streaming on Twitch, Kick, and other platforms can offer teenagers the opportunity to express themselves, improve social skills, and build a community – and for a very limited few, the chance to get rich and famous. However, broadcasting live on the internet has a unique set of safety risks that parents of wannabe streaming stars need to be aware of.
What is live streaming?
Live streaming, or simply “streaming”, refers to broadcasting live to the world on the internet. Streaming is different from traditional video content, in that it unfolds in real-time, it’s unedited, and it allows viewers to interact with you in the moment. You can live stream on YouTube and all of the main social media platforms, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X; but Twitch and Kick are dedicated streaming platforms, and the most popular options for anyone serious about their streaming.
What do people live stream?
You can live stream while doing pretty much anything; cooking, performing music, painting, working out, or even just talking about your day. However, gaming is by far the most popular streaming category and what most refer to when talking about streaming. Gamers often stream on Twitch, showcasing esports tournaments, playthroughs, speedruns, and game reviews, all while engaging with their audience in real time. The games Fortnite, Minecraft, and League of Legends are among those that dominate the most-watched charts on Twitch.
Why might your child want to become a streamer?
Your child’s motivation to become a streamer can come from a variety of places. Twitch is one of the most popular entertainment platforms for kids, especially gamers, so it’s no wonder that they may want to emulate the successful streamers they watch daily.
Money is also a big motivator for teenagers looking to become financially independent from their parents – but making big bucks requires a lot of followers. As an estimate, streamers with between 50 and 200 consistent viewers could earn between $50 to $1500 per month. At the other end of the spectrum, a top-tier streamer with 40,000 subscribers could earn $100,000 per month.
Not all young streamers dream of amassing followers or a fortune. Streaming to an audience, no matter how large can help a child build their confidence and social skills, as well as exercising their creativity. What’s more, some teens use platforms like Twitch simply to connect with friends and family, playing games together and chatting in real time.
How old do you need to be to stream on Twitch, Kick, and other platforms?
Twitch’s Guide for Parents and Educators states that children above the age of 13 can stream on the platform. It also expresses that users under 18 can only use Twitch under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian – although Twitch doesn’t have a strict verification system to prove that a parent is supervising a minor’s account. Any under 13s found to be streaming on the platform will have their account suspended indefinitely.
Kick’s ToS also states that users must be over 13 (or the age of digital consent in their country) and under 18s must seek the supervision of a parent or guardian before streaming. It’s also 13+ for live streaming on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. The latter allows streaming for under 13s only when they are visibly accompanied by an adult. To go LIVE on TikTok, a user must be over 18, and confirmed with a government-issued ID.
The safety risks for teen streamers
While it isn’t “new”, faster internet, better technology, and social media integration have helped skyrocket live streaming’s popularity in recent years – and so, many of us might not yet be aware of its unique risks to children.
Cyberbullying
The ability to interact with a streamer in real time is one of the most appealing features of live streaming, and while chat is usually positive, it can be used by those intending to cause harm.
Live grooming
The popularity of streaming among minors has led to the emergence of a specific form of grooming known as “live grooming.” Predators target young streamers on platforms like Twitch, TikTok, YouTube Live, and others, using live chat to build trust and manipulate minors into potentially dangerous situations.
In-stream chat aside, private messaging, or DMs, is a common way a predator could get close to a minor. On Twitch, private messages, or “whispers”, are automatically disabled for under 18s (but can be manually re-enabled). Other platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook have restrictions on private messaging for minors, but none of these measures are completely foolproof.
Impact on self-esteem
Whether hosting a YouTube channel or streaming on Twitch, putting yourself out there in any form is not for the thin-skinned. The chat feed on a live stream can contain harsh, negative, and even hateful criticisms of the stream or the streamer personally. Your child’s self-esteem might also take a hit if they fail to amass followers or hit the heady heights they dreamed of before starting their streaming journey.
The reality is that only a small fraction of streamers achieve fame and fortune. If your child has unrealistic expectations, they may be left feeling disappointed if those dreams don’t come true any time soon.
Revealing private information
When we’re relaxed and having fun, it’s easy to overshare without realizing the potential consequences. For children, who may not fully understand the risks of revealing personal information, the dangers are even greater. Sharing details like their real name, location, school, or phone number on a live stream can expose them to serious threats, including doxxing, harassment, scams, and grooming.
Saying or doing something they later regret
Similar to screenshotting a disappearing message on Snapchat, a live streamer could say or do something regrettable in the heat of the moment and, thanks to screen recorders and similar software, it can be immortalized forever. While Twitch does not “allow” viewers to record or download someone else’s stream without permission, the platform can not detect people using screen recording software.
Gaming addiction
On Twitch, streamers are often praised and rewarded for dedicating long hours to gaming. The fear of disappointing their audience or losing followers can push young streamers to play excessively, increasing the risk of, or even justifying, a gaming addiction.
Dares, challenges, and requests
In a bid to please and keep their hard-won army of followers, a streamer may resort to accepting dares, challenges and requests. These can range from the seemingly harmless, like doing a TikTok dance or playing a game with one hand, to activities violent or sexual in nature.
4 tips to help your teen stream safely
The risks are real and numerous, but if after talking it through with your child, you’re happy with allowing them to live stream, you need to get to know the platforms and tools that will help to keep your child safe . For example, Twitch provides safeguard tools like chat filters and stream moderation, plus a dedicated safety team working at all times to prevent harm before it happens.
To help make your teen’s streaming venture a happy and safe one, we suggest combining the platform’s safety features with the following tips.
1. Get involved with their streaming
Consider watching or even participating in your teen’s streams. This allows you to monitor what they say and do on camera while also getting a sense of their interactions with followers. Showing interest in their streaming activities can help build trust, making them more likely to turn to you if something concerning happens online.
2. Have a safety plan
Whichever platform your teen uses to stream, ensure they have the appropriate privacy settings enabled and they know how to report or block troubling users. On Twitch, for example, make sure your teen knows how to block whispers from strangers and ban problematic viewers; and knows how to activate “Shield mode” to protect against sudden chat abuse.
3. Reiterate the importance of privacy
What’s said or seen in a live stream cannot be edited out. Therefore, it’s doubly important that your teen takes precautions not to give away any personal details to strangers watching their stream. This list isn’t exhaustive, but here are a few ways your child can protect their privacy while streaming:
- Do not reveal real names, addresses, workplaces or schools
- Do not wear school or work uniforms
- Be mindful of what’s visible that could reveal identity or location , i.e. landmarks or street signs from a window, shipping labels on packages
- Consider using a VPN to mask location
- Remind friends not to accidentally dox during a stream by mentioning real names, hometowns, schools, or workplaces.
4. Get a helping hand from parental control tools
Although streaming and social media platforms offer features to protect minors, an external parental control tool like Qustodio can provide an extra layer of security for your teen streamer. With Qustodio, you can track their time on streaming platforms, set limits if needed, or even block access entirely. Plus, you have the power to instantly cut off a stream by pausing the internet.
Live streaming on platforms like Twitch is extremely popular among teens, and many dream of making it big just like their online heroes. Although the chances of them becoming rich and famous are slim, some consider streaming a rewarding pastime that allows teenagers to express themselves while connecting with a community. Streaming does, however, have a unique set of dangers that you and your teen need to be aware of. By optimizing the platform’s safety settings and following the safety tips above, you can help your teen “go live” to the world safely.
