TWITCH
TWITCH
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MINIMUM AGE: 13+
WHAT IS IT? Twitch is a live streaming platform created for individuals aged 13 and above. Many children and young people have discovered that Twitch offers them new avenues for self-expression, social connections, and the opportunity to engage with vibrant communities of like-minded individuals. 🔞 Exposure to Inappropriate Content Despite Twitch’s guidelines, some streams feature sexually explicit or violent material, which can be accidentally viewed by younger or sensitive audiences. 🔐 Privacy Concerns Users sometimes share personal details on streams or chats, risking doxxing or identity theft. Twitch also collects user data, which can raise privacy questions. 📱 Cyberbullying and Harassment Toxic chat behaviour, hate speech, and coordinated harassment campaigns are common, and can severely affect streamers' and viewers’ well-being. 🧑💻 Online Predators & Grooming Predators may exploit Twitch’s chat and direct messaging to target minors, using grooming tactics that are hard to detect. 🧠 Addiction & Mental Health The interactive and immersive nature of Twitch can lead to excessive screen time, contributing to anxiety, sleep issues, and social withdrawal. 🎮 Game Concerns Some games streamed contain violent or mature content, which may not be appropriate for all viewers and can influence younger audiences negatively. 📢 Lack of Advert Moderation Ads can sometimes promote inappropriate products or scams, disrupting the viewing experience and potentially misleading users. 💸 In-Game Purchases Streamers often promote games with microtransactions or loot boxes, encouraging spending that can affect vulnerable viewers, especially children. 💬 Direct Messaging (Whispers) Private messages are a hotspot for spam, scams, and unwanted contact, including attempts at grooming or harassment. 🔓 Scams & Account Theft Phishing and hacking attempts are frequent, with stolen accounts being used for fraudulent activity or sold on black markets. |
🛡️SAFETY TIPS:
📲Understand the app: Familiarise yourself with Telegram's features and how they work. Knowing how the app works will help you guide your child effectively. 👨👧Parental supervision: Check their interactions and adjust privacy settings accordingly. Try to stay up-to-date on Internet trends and best practices. 📢Underage Accounts: Telegram might have an age restriction but it lacks a proper age verification process. Therefore, there’s little stopping users from faking their dates of birth or creating bogus profiles and targeting children and young people. 👥Manage friend requests: Teach your child only to accept friend requests from people they know in real life. 📷 Cover the Webcam When Not in Use Physically cover your camera when you're not ready to go live. Always be mindful of what’s visible in your background—it can reveal location clues. 🧠 Trust Your Instincts If something feels uncomfortable, it is uncomfortable. Leave the chat immediately and don’t engage with users who seem suspicious, aggressive, or inappropriate. 🖥️ Place Devices in Shared Spaces Keep internet-connected devices in living rooms or kitchens, not bedrooms. This makes risky behavior less likely and easier to notice. 🙋♀️Conversations: Have open discussions with children and young people about the topics associated with online use - bullying, grooming, sexual and criminal exploitation, body image, as well as accessing support and how to report. 🚨 Know the Signs of Trouble Watch for behaviour changes—like anxiety, secrecy, mood swings, or suddenly deleting apps. These can signal something inappropriate happened online. 💬Conversations: Have open discussions with children and young people about the topics associated with online use - bullying, grooming, sexual and criminal exploitation, body image, as well as accessing support and how to report. FURTHER SUPPORT: For parents/ carers If you're worried about your child or need support call NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. If you discover criminal content when online then report it directly to the police or the Internet Watch Foundation. If you're worried about online grooming or sexual behaviour online then report directly to the police or contact CEOP. For Children & young people if they're worried or want to talk, encourage them to contact Childline Online or call 0800 1111. Check out our Resource Centre for further information and useful online safety tips. FURTHER SUPPORT: For parents/ carers If you're worried about your child or need support call NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. If you discover criminal content when online then report it directly to the police or the Internet Watch Foundation. If you're worried about online grooming or sexual behaviour online then report directly to the police or contact CEOP. For Children & young people if they're worried or want to talk, encourage them to contact Childline Online or call 0800 1111. Check out our Resource Centre for further information and useful online safety tips. 
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