Live streaming lets people broadcast what they are doing in real time to an audience, similar to live TV. It can be accessed on mobile devices, desktop computers or through apps such as YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Instagram Live Stories, TikTok and Twitch.
Watching and creating live streams can be appealing to children and young people as it gives them the opportunity to create content, connect with their favourite influencers or celebrities and share a part of their lives online. This can be a way for them to develop identity and build confidence, communication skills and self-esteem. It can also be a way to connect with other viewers who have similar interests or experiences and this can be a form of social support. They may even be able to earn money from their streams through gifts or virtual coins that their audiences can send them.
However, there are some concerns around children and young people engaging in this activity. This includes the risk of inappropriate contact, such as people who might attempt to trick or exploit them. It’s important that children are aware of the risks and know how to seek support or report concerns online. This can include identifying and using trusted sources of information on the internet and reporting to the platform they are using, or CEOP, if they are concerned about someone they know. youtube live stream viewers buy
