YouTube will increase the minimum age for live streaming to 16

YouTube is increasing the minimum age required for its users to live stream to 16. In a message uploaded to the YouTube Help support page, it was confirmed that as of July 22, creators will need to be 16 or older to stream unaccompanied on the platform. Previously, YouTube stipulated that children under the age of 13 had to be visibly accompanied by an adult if they wanted to post live content, but going forward this rule will extend to anyone between anyone aged 13-15.

YouTube warns that anyone who isn’t 16 or older and is continuing to live stream without an adult present beyond July 22 risks having their live chat disabled, along with access to other features temporarily revoked. YouTube adds its eventual intention is to remove live streams found to be breaking the rules, and anyone whose account is hit with restrictions will be forbidden from live streaming using a different channel. Doing so could ultimately lead to a terminated account. The TeamYouTube account said on X that creators impacted by the rule changes will be notified by email if their streams are taken down.

Creators under the age of 16 who want to continue live streaming will be able to grant an adult access to their channel as an editor, manager or owner, which allows them to start a stream from the account linked to their channel. Previously, this had to be done from YouTube’s Live Control room. YouTube said adults co-creating with someone younger than 16 will have to be "visibly present" and clearly just as much a part of the live stream.

We’ve reached out to Youtube for more details, as the post doesn’t offer an explanation for why it has decided to make these changes now. But it will no doubt come as a blow for younger creators with a large existing audience.

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