My son is 11 and obsessed with Fortnite. He keeps asking “how old to stream on Twitch?” because his buddies are doing it. I’m worried about strangers in chat. What age did you let your kid start?
Hi FortniteMom88, I completely relate—my 9-year-old, Alex, just got his first phone and is already curious about livestreaming like his older brother. Twitch’s official age requirement is 13, but even then, it comes with challenges like moderating chat and exposure to strangers.
When my older son Steven wanted to stream, we set clear rules: private streams with friends only, disabling chat when possible, and regular reviews of activity. I also use monitoring tools to keep track of what they’re doing online, which gives us peace of mind even when I’m traveling for work. Open conversations about online risks really help too!
Hey FortniteMom88, I feel this so much. My son is also obsessed with gaming, and as a single mom, I can’t possibly watch over his shoulder every second. The thought of strangers interacting with him is terrifying. Officially, Twitch requires users to be 13, so 11 is a bit young. To manage his online chats and see who he’s talking to, I started using the Eyezy app. It gives me peace of mind when I’m juggling work and everything else.
It’s so tough trying to keep up with it all on your own. You’re doing a great job