Twitch

What is Twitch?

Twitch is a live streaming platform owned by Amazon. It is primarily used for gaming but also features music, art, talk shows and the “Just Chatting” category. Streamers broadcast live and viewers interact via live chat. You can follow or subscribe to channels, donate “bits” and watch clips and VODs (recorded streams).

Age rating: 13 (mature content requires 18+).

Why do kids like it?

• Watching favourite gamers play live. It is like sitting next to someone playing — but with thousands of other viewers.
• Interactive. You can chat directly with streamers and other viewers in real time.
• Community feel. Many channels have regular viewers who form a tight-knit community.
• Esports and events. Major tournaments and special events attract many children and teenagers.
• Learning game strategies. Children watch to improve at games they play themselves.
• The dream of becoming a streamer. Many children want to start their own channels.
• Emote culture. Twitch’s own emojis and expressions are part of youth culture.

What are the real risks?

• Live, unmoderated content. Streamers can say or show anything in real time — there is no pre-moderation.
• Chat can be toxic or predatory. Live chat can contain bullying, harassment and contact from strangers.
• Spending money. Bits, subscriptions and gifted subscriptions can quickly add up. Children do not always understand the cost.
• Mature content. Streams with sexual content, violence or drug use — the “mature” tag is self-applied by the streamer.
• Parasocial relationships. Children can feel a close bond with a streamer who does not know they exist.
• Messages from strangers (Whispers). Direct messages can come from anyone.
• Children streaming themselves. Broadcasting live means personal information can be revealed in real time — with no take-backs.
• Raid harassment. A raid can send many unknown viewers into a channel at once, which can be used for bullying.

Settings to check

1. Parental controls: Enable parental controls in account settings to limit exposure to mature content.
2. Content filtering: Turn on filtering for mature streams so they are not displayed.
3. Disable Whispers from strangers: Go to privacy settings and restrict who can send direct messages.
4. Manage spending: Do not link a payment method to the account, or use a supervised account with parental oversight.
5. Enable two-factor authentication: Protect the account with an extra layer of security.
6. If your child streams: Set chat to “Followers only”, enable AutoMod for automatic filtering and review VOD settings for recordings.

How to talk about it

“Do you mostly watch other people’s streams, or do you stream yourself? Who are your favourite streamers?”

“Have you ever spent money on bits or subscriptions? Do you know how much it costs?”

“Has anyone you don’t know sent you messages on Twitch? What do people usually write in chat?”

Last reviewed: March 2026