YouTube Enhances Child Safety Protocols: Teens Under 16 Require Adult Supervision to Livestream

YouTube is enforcing stricter age guidelines for livestreaming, now requiring users to be at least 16 years old instead of 13. This updated policy, which will be effective from 22 July, is part of Google’s comprehensive efforts to ensure the protection of minors online and to tackle ongoing issues regarding child safety.

Previously, teenagers aged 13 and older had the ability to host live streams independently. Under the new regulations, only individuals who are 16 or older will be able to livestream on their own. Those between the ages of 13 and 15 can still feature in livestreams, provided there is strict adult supervision. An adult must be visibly present on camera for the duration of the broadcast and must also play a key role, such as editor or channel owner.

If these requirements are not fulfilled, YouTube has stated that it could disable live chat, remove the stream, or temporarily restrict the ability to livestream. Continued infractions may result in stricter penalties.

This update follows a February announcement from Google, which introduced plans to leverage machine learning for estimating users’ actual ages, aiming to reduce instances of users misrepresenting their birthdays. The company has faced regulatory scrutiny for violating children’s privacy regulations, resulting in significant fines.

YouTube asserts that this update aligns with its broader strategy for enhancing child safety, which includes options for supervised accounts, content labelled as “Made for Kids,” and privacy recommendations for younger users. The platform encourages young creators to avoid sharing personal information on camera and to use moderation tools to oversee interactions during live events.

While the new age limit may be a source of frustration for budding young creators, YouTube insists that these measures are essential to create a safer online space. Critics, however, suggest that without stronger age verification mechanisms, users will likely continue to find ways to circumvent the rules, making enforcement mostly dependent on moderation and potential legal measures.