With more children aspiring to become YouTubers and the growth of live streaming on social networks, it’s now essential to get to grips with the phenomenon of children broadcasting themselves online.
See our guide to learn more about live streaming and vlogging, how children are using it to interact with others and what you can do to keep them safe while doing it.
What is Live Streaming?
Live streaming or ‘Going live’ is the broadcasting of live video on the internet from a specific location in real-time, like live TV. It differs from video chat services like Skype, as videos can be watched by many more people. All you need to live stream is access to the internet and a camera.
What is vlogging?
Vlogging involves publishing pre-recorded videos on social networks like YouTube on a regular basis. Both brands and individuals or ‘Vloggers’ do this.
What is a Let’s Play video?
Let’s Play videos are videos showing a screen recording of someone playing a game while providing a voice-over commentary. These have become very popular with YouTubers and gaming brands have started to tailor content specifically for this type of YouTube gaming video.
Here is a list of the most popular live streaming and vlogging apps that children are using. We’ve provided a summary of the safety features they offer and links to guides to find out more about how to manage privacy settings on the platforms.
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According to our research, there is a larger number of young people watching vlogs and live streams than ‘going live’ or creating their own content. We’ve found while 22% of 4 – 16-year-olds are live streaming, 41% of them are watching the content rather than creating it.
What types of vlogs do children watch?
Gaming, unboxing and vlogs from professional vloggers are the most popular types of vlogs watched among children
What types of live streams do children watch?
Gaming, sport and TV series and film are the most popular types of live stream watched among children
As everything happens behind, a screen children may feel more able to do things they may not do face to face.
The real-time nature of the live streaming means that there is no way to edit what is shared so a child may share something intimate or private if asked, that they otherwise wouldn’t share as a photo or video.
The immediate feedback given by viewers, whether negative or positive, can have a direct effect on their confidence and self-esteem.
Latest research from the IWF that groomers are using these tools as a way to coerce children into live streaming their own sexual abuse over webcams, tablets and mobile phones.
As streams are live there is no way of knowing that will be shown so there is the possibility that they may see explicit content.
As children consume the content, they may sick to mimic or take on the ideas of that are being shared.
Getting a sense of achievement as audience and engagement of content grows.
Being able to be less socially isolated by building bonds with people with similar interests.
Sites like YouTube and apps like Live.me and TikTok enable users to buy virtual coins on the app to gift to other users as they wish. So, children may be incentivised to do things to get watchers or fans to gift coins to earn money.
On certain sites, once you have reached a certain number of subscribers you can monetise your channels by allowing ads to be shown which generates income.
1. Stay engaged with what they do online
2. Use tools to help them manage what they see and share
3. Make them aware of reporting functions available to flag people or content
4. Encourage them to ‘Go live’ or record in public places to limit the personal information they share
5. If they are watching live streaming or vlogs…
If you decide to allow your child to vlog or live stream, here are some basic tips on how to do it safely.
Here are some other useful parent stories and children experiences of cyberbullying to give you more insights on the issue:
