Twitch has become an increasingly popular platform for people to share their passion for gaming, music, and creative pursuits. As with many online communities, however, there are certain rules and regulations in place to help ensure a safe and positive experience for all users. One of the most important of these rules is the age requirement for streaming and using Twitch.
If you’re considering becoming a Twitch streamer, you may be wondering: how old do you have to be to stream on Twitch? In this article, we’ll explore the answer to that question, as well as why there is an age restriction in the first place. We’ll also provide tips and guidelines for staying safe and responsible on the platform, whether you’re a younger streamer or simply want to ensure a positive experience for yourself and others. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of the age requirements on Twitch and how to navigate them effectively.
What is the age requirement to be a streamer on Twitch?
The age requirement to stream on Twitch is 13 years old. It is the same for viewers.
Children under 13 may not use Twitch. We are committed to upholding our age restrictions to keep kids and teens safe. If you know someone under the age of 13 is using Twitch please let us know.
Safety.Twitch.TV
How does Twitch know how old you are?
Twitch only knows your date of birth because of the information provided, and that’s it. All you’d need is an email and a mobile number. Here is a reminder:
There is some text to try and deter under age users and streamers which is “please provide your date of birth so we know you are old enough to have an account”. But realistically, this is a reminder to people to lie or they won’t get in. Since there is no verification process, it is as easy as that.
You also agree to the Terms of Service
, Privacy Notice.
Why does Twitch have an age restriction and why is it 13?
It is relatively easy for someone underage to sign up to Twitch as a streamer or a viewer.
There are several reasons why Twitch has implemented an age restriction for streaming on its platform. Firstly, Twitch wants to comply with legal requirements around age restrictions for online platforms, which are often set by governments or regulatory bodies. Secondly, streaming on Twitch can involve interacting with strangers and sharing personal information, which could potentially put younger users at risk of online predators or other inappropriate behavior. Additionally, younger users may not have the maturity or experience to handle the potential stress or negative feedback that can come with broadcasting themselves to a large audience.
As for why the age restriction is specifically set at 13, this is likely because of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a U.S. law that prohibits websites from collecting personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. By setting the age restriction at 13, Twitch can avoid running afoul of COPPA and other similar laws. It’s worth noting that other social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, also have a minimum age requirement of 13 for users.
While it’s possible that Twitch has some level of concern for the well-being of younger users, the age restriction of 13 is primarily in place to comply with legal requirements and protect Twitch from potential legal liabilities. As I mentioned earlier, Twitch needs to comply with laws like COPPA that regulate how online platforms can collect and use personal information from children. Essentially, they can’t set cookies, collect session date or serve ads.
By setting the age restriction at 13, Twitch is taking steps to ensure that it is not violating these laws and can avoid facing legal consequences. Additionally, setting a minimum age requirement helps to mitigate some of the potential risks and issues that can arise when younger users interact with strangers and share personal information online. So, while Twitch may have some level of concern for the safety of its younger users, the age restriction is ultimately in place to protect the company and comply with legal regulations.
If COPPA changed the requirements to 12, Twitch would likely follow.
What does Twitch do to tackle under-age access on their platform?
Not a lot. Their children on Twitch page is buried and hard to find unless you know what you’re looking for.
Twitch’s approach is more reactive than proactive when it comes to protecting children’s privacy. The company sets an age restriction of 13 and does not knowingly collect or maintain personal information from users under 13. However, this approach is reactive in the sense that Twitch is primarily responding to legal requirements and takes action only when it learns that personal information of persons under 13 has been collected on or through its services. It does not actively look for it.
In addition, Twitch encourages parents or legal guardians to contact support to terminate a child’s account and delete personal information, which is also reactive in nature. Overall, Twitch’s approach is more reactive than proactive when it comes to protecting children’s privacy.
They then have an age related suspension with links going nowhere and no extra info beyond this.
Does Twitch have a lot of content not suitable for 13 year olds?
Yes, tons.
Twitch is a platform that offers a wide range of content, and while much of it may be appropriate for younger audiences, there are certain types of content that may not be suitable for 13 year olds. Some examples include:
- Mature or explicit content: Twitch prohibits sexually explicit or pornographic content, as well as content that promotes or glorifies violence, hate speech, or discrimination. However, there may still be streams that contain mature language, sexual innuendo, sexually suggestive such as hot tub streams or violent themes that may not be appropriate for younger viewers.
- Games with mature content: Some games that are popular on Twitch, such as first-person shooters or games with graphic violence or sexual themes, may be rated M for Mature or have other age restrictions. While Twitch does not prohibit streaming these types of games, they may not be suitable for younger viewers. Twitch does have a banned games list but it is not as big as you’d think.
- Inappropriate behavior or chat: While Twitch has community guidelines that prohibit harassment, hate speech, and other inappropriate behavior, there may still be instances of this behavior in chats or streams. Younger viewers may be more vulnerable to these types of interactions and may not have the maturity or experience to navigate them effectively.
- Sponsorship or advertising: Twitch streams may include sponsorships or advertising for products that may not be appropriate for younger viewers, such as alcohol, tobacco, or gambling.
Overall, while Twitch does have rules and guidelines in place to prevent inappropriate content, it’s important for parents and guardians to monitor their children’s activity on the platform and have open communication about what is and isn’t appropriate for them to watch.
