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On YouTube, you must be at least 16 to start a live stream. A 16- or 17-year-old can stream if the channel is verified and has had no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. Someone under 16 may participate only with an adult visibly present and co-creating. These are YouTube platform rules; local laws or account requirements may add conditions.
Who can start a YouTube live stream?
| Age | Can they start a stream? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Under 13 | Not independently under YouTube’s minimum-age live-streaming rule. | Any participation must follow YouTube’s adult-present requirements for under-16s and any rules that apply to the account. |
| 13–15 | Not independently. | An adult must be visibly present and co-create. The adult may stream from an adult-owned account or, with the proper channel access, start from the minor’s channel through Live Control Room. |
| 16–17 | Yes, if channel conditions are met. | The channel must be verified and free of live-streaming restrictions during the previous 90 days. |
YouTube says its minimum age to start a live stream became 16 on July 22, 2025. The age rule does not replace other eligibility conditions: a channel also needs verification and no live-streaming restrictions in the prior 90 days.
How can someone under 16 participate?
YouTube allows an under-16 participant to be in a live stream only when an adult is visibly present and engaging as a co-creator. The adult cannot simply lend an account or leave the minor to stream alone.
Option 1: The adult starts from their own account
An adult can start the stream from an adult-owned account, with the minor visibly accompanied during the broadcast. The adult needs to remain present and engage in the stream.
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Option 2: The adult starts from the minor’s channel
- The minor grants the adult editor, manager, or owner access to the channel.
- The adult starts the stream from YouTube Live Control Room. YouTube’s guidance says channel delegates can currently start streams only through Live Control Room.
- The adult stays visibly present and engages in the broadcast as much as the minor, so the stream is genuinely co-created.
These are specific routes described by YouTube. Simply having a parent’s permission, or having an adult nearby but not visible and participating, is not the same as meeting the platform’s stated co-creation condition.
What can happen if a stream does not meet the rules?
YouTube says streams that violate its minimum-age rule may be removed, and the account may temporarily lose live-streaming ability. For streams featuring 13–15-year-olds without a visibly accompanying adult, YouTube also says live chat may be disabled and access to live chat or other features may be temporarily restricted. Enforcement can vary by case; no particular outcome is guaranteed.
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What privacy setting applies to teens using a webcam?
For users aged 13–17, YouTube’s webcam setup page says the default stream privacy setting is private; for users 18 or older, it says the default is public. The page also says streamers can change the setting. This is a webcam-flow detail, not a general default for every way of going live, so check the setup screen for the method you use.
How should younger creators protect their privacy?
- Do not reveal your full name, age, home location, school, or phone number during a stream.
- If someone makes you uncomfortable, stop the stream and tell a trusted adult.
- Have the adult who is co-creating help review what is visible or audible before going live, including names, school details, mail, or location clues in the background.
YouTube’s safety guidance advises minors not to share identifying details and to stop streaming and tell a trusted adult if something makes them uncomfortable.
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Does streaming software change the age rule?
No. A webcam, encoder, computer, or cloud service does not change who is eligible to start a YouTube live stream. StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping an uploaded-video stream live on YouTube; it does not make an under-16 creator independently eligible or replace YouTube’s adult-present requirement. An eligible channel planning a 24/7 prerecorded stream can learn more at StreamNeo: upload a recording or playlist, add the YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; uploaded video streams at its original quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and the service can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. Start a free day with StreamNeo.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Before you go live: eligibility checklist
- You are at least 16, or an adult is visibly present and co-creating if you are under 16.
- The channel is verified.
- The channel has had no live-streaming restrictions in the last 90 days.
- You have checked the privacy setting for the streaming method you plan to use.
- You have agreed with the accompanying adult how to protect personal information and what to do if you feel uncomfortable.
YouTube’s Help guidance establishes the platform policy described here, but does not settle whether country-specific law or account rules add requirements. Check the rules that apply where you live.
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