YouTube rolls out live streaming restrictions on July 22

YouTube has introduced restrictions on its live streaming feature, raising the minimum age from 13 to 16, effective July 22, 2025. The guideline will prevent young content creators, who are mostly gaming streamers beginning their digital careers in early adolescence, from broadcasting live without adult supervision.

According to a help center post published on Wednesday, the policy update dictates that “creators will need to be 16 or older to be able to livestream on YouTube.” Those aged 13 to 15 will only be permitted to live stream if they are “visibly accompanied by an adult.” 

“Livestreams featuring 13–15-year-olds who are not visibly accompanied by an adult may have their live chat disabled and the account may temporarily lose access to live chat or other features,” the platform told content creators.

Live streaming restriction: Minors must stream with adults

In its statement, YouTube said it now requires underage users to comply with the new age rules by streaming through an adult-managed account, or at least have an adult present during the livestream, if they are using their own accounts. 

“If you’re under 16 and would like to participate in a livestream from an account owned by an adult, that adult must be visibly present in the livestream. You can give the adult access to your channel as an editor, manager or owner,” YouTube added. “This allows the adult to start the livestream from your account while still reaching your audience through your own channel.”

In tandem with the rule change, Google reiterated its safety guidelines for minors engaging with the platform’s live features. Children and teenagers are urged not to disclose personal information such as full name, age, address, or school. 

“Be careful about what’s in the background of your stream,” it advised. “Don’t show anything that could give away where you are, like your house number or a street sign outside your window.”

The company also asked users to appoint adults or guardians as moderators for chat interactions. 

“Consider designating a trusted adult as a moderator to help filter out unwanted chats. If anything like that happens, stop your stream immediately and tell a trusted adult straight away,” the help page read.

Australia, France pressure YouTube into policy change

Just two days before the new policy was announced, Australian lawmakers had started congressional discussions on whether YouTube should be added to the country’s incoming under-16 social media ban.

The 2024 legislation prevents anyone under the age of 16 from registering on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and X. YouTube was excluded from the list because of its purported role in education and child-friendly entertainment.

Last Tuesday, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, called for that exemption to include YouTube. In a letter to the government this month, Inman Grant cited a survey to make her case that YouTube is where children are likely to experience the most online harm. 

According to the research, of the 2,600 children aged 10 to 16 surveyed by the regulator, nearly 40% reported encountering harmful content on the platform.

Speaking in Canberra on June 24, Grant said YouTube’s algorithms were partly to blame. 

“These algorithms drive users down rabbit holes that they are powerless to fight against,” she said, bashing the company for reportedly downsizing its online safety teams.

Responding to the queries, YouTube-owner Google dismissed the commissioner’s findings, stating that the data “ignored” evidence from teachers and parents supporting the platform’s access for young users. 

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