YouTube has recently announced a significant change to its live streaming policies aimed at enhancing the safety of young users. Starting July 22, the platform will raise the minimum age requirement for live streaming from 13 to 16. This means that content creators aged 16 and older will be able to stream freely with their chat functionalities enabled, provided they abide by the existing guidelines, particularly concerning copyright. For those creators aged 13 to 15, new restrictions will come into play.
Users in this age group will need to have an adult present and visible during their live streams. If this requirement is not met, their chat will be disabled, and additional features may also be restricted. YouTube has indicated future plans to impose stricter penalties for violations of these rules, which could include the removal of live streaming capabilities for offending accounts. To facilitate compliance, YouTube encourages young creators to grant adults channel access, allowing them to take on roles such as editor, manager, or owner.
This will help ensure that streams are monitored effectively. Additionally, YouTube has provided a set of best practices for streaming aimed specifically at minors and their guardians. In addition to these updates, YouTube is experimenting with community-focused features for live streams, including a leaderboard that recognizes active participants through chatting and Super Chats. Those who excelled will have the opportunity to be featured prominently, with top users receiving badges as a reward for their engagement.
Overall, these initiatives illustrate YouTube’s commitment to creating a safer environment for its younger users while also enhancing the community experience during live streams.