YouTube raises livestreaming age limit to 16

The update is expected to impact a large segment of young content creators, particularly within the gaming community, where many streamers start broadcasting in their early teens. While YouTube has not officially detailed the reasons behind the change, it comes in the wake of growing concerns over the exposure of minors to inappropriate interactions and harmful content during live broadcasts.

The platform's new guidelines arrive at a time when regulatory scrutiny of social media platforms is intensifying globally. In Australia, the federal government is considering setting 16 as the minimum age for access to all social media platforms. While YouTube has so far been exempt—thanks to its widespread use in education—the country’s eSafety Commissioner recently urged that the platform be included, citing its increasing social features and associated risks.

By raising the age threshold and tightening rules around unsupervised minors, YouTube appears to be reinforcing its commitment to child safety while distinguishing itself from platforms where real-time interaction is more loosely moderated.