YouTube is introducing stricter rules for live streaming, with the primary goal of enhancing the safety of children on the platform. Key changes include raising the minimum age for live streaming from 13 to 16 years old. These rules, which go into effect on July 22, will bar those under 16 from independently hosting live streams. YouTube emphasizes that these updates are part of ongoing initiatives to protect adolescents and to reduce the potential risks they may encounter while interacting with online viewers.
Despite these new rules, teenagers under 16 can still appear in live streams, as long as they are co-streaming with an adult. If this condition isn’t met, YouTube may disable the live chat feature or remove the stream. This change could complicate things for young creators who want to stream independently. They’ll now need a parent or another adult as a channel manager. While the new rules may be a letdown for some ambitious youths, YouTube asserts that the safety of minors is a core company value.