YouTube raising minimum age for live streaming to 16

A YouTube office building is pictured with the platform’s logo on display. The company is updating its live streaming rules to require users be at least 16 years old to stream alone, starting July 22, 2025.  (Photo by Olly Curtis/Future via Getty Images)

YouTube is implementing new safety rules aimed at protecting young users on its platform. Starting July 22, creators must be at least 16 years old to live stream alone. The policy replaces the previous guideline, which allowed children as young as 13 to go live as long as they followed certain rules. Now, any creator under 16 will be required to have a visibly present adult during a live broadcast.

YouTube says the changes are designed to strengthen protections for minors and provide clearer boundaries for who can participate in live content creation. While younger creators can still engage with their audience, they’ll need adult supervision—or risk account penalties.

Why is YouTube raising the live stream age limit?

The backstory:

YouTube’s updated policy comes amid ongoing concerns about child safety and harassment risks during live streams. Although the platform has long restricted live streaming for users under 13, teens between 13 and 15 could previously stream alone. YouTube’s new rule changes that, expanding adult accompaniment requirements to this age group.

What we know:

Starting July 22, any user under 16 who live streams without an adult visibly present may have their live chat turned off, and their account could temporarily lose live features. Repeat offenses could result in live streams being taken down entirely or accounts being restricted from streaming at all.

YouTube also clarified that affected creators will be notified by email, and any attempts to bypass restrictions by using another channel could lead to full account termination.

What we don't know:

YouTube has not provided a detailed explanation for the timing of the policy shift, nor has it clarified whether specific incidents prompted the change. FOX Television Stations has reached out to YouTube for comment.

What options do teen creators have under the new rules?

The other side:

Teen creators under 16 still have a path to live stream, but they’ll need an adult’s help. YouTube allows younger users to assign an adult as an editor, manager, or owner of their channel. That adult can then initiate the stream through YouTube’s Live Control Room and must be clearly involved in the broadcast.

To be compliant, the adult must be "visibly present" and actively co-create the content—not just act as a bystander or silent observer. This co-hosting rule is intended to make it easier for families or mentors to responsibly support younger creators while reducing potential risks.

How is YouTube enforcing these new live streaming rules?

What's next:

YouTube says it will begin by disabling features like live chat for violators, but it plans to escalate enforcement by removing live streams that don’t meet the new standards. Persistent violations may result in temporary or permanent bans from the live streaming feature, and users who attempt to evade restrictions with alternate channels may be terminated altogether.

Moderation tools and privacy settings will remain available to help all creators—especially minors—control who engages with their streams.

The Source: This article is based on an official update from YouTube’s Help page, which outlines the July 22, 2025 policy changes regarding live streaming age requirements. Additional details were reported by Matt Tate and confirmed by YouTube’s TeamYouTube social media account. Further information was gathered directly from YouTube’s child safety and community guidelines.

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