YouTube is tightening its live-streaming policies by raising the minimum age requirement for creators.
Starting July 22, users must be at least 16 years old to host a livestream on the platform. Previously, the minimum age was 13, allowing younger teens to go live with certain safety features in place.
According to an official support post from YouTube, teens aged 13 to 15 will no longer be able to start livestreams on their own. However, they can still appear in livestreams if they are “visibly accompanied” by an adult. If this condition isn’t met, YouTube may take enforcement actions such as disabling live chat, ending the stream, or even restricting access to live-streaming capabilities for the channel.
Bijay Pokharel
Bijay Pokharel is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Abijita, an independent technology and cybersecurity news publication established in 2017. A specialist in cybersecurity journalism, Bijay covers vulnerability research, malware analysis, enterprise data breaches, digital privacy, and emerging technologies. His work translates complex technical threats into precise, accessible, and actionable intelligence for security professionals and general readers alike. His reporting and investigative coverage are routinely cited and republished across leading technology and security media.



