Guardians Gain Power Over Teens' Live Streams and Private Messaging on Twitch

Twitch, the leading live streaming platform for gamers and content creators, has introduced new parental controls aimed at safeguarding teenagers’ online activities. Parents can now restrict their kids from going live and privately messaging other users through a newly launched dashboard.

The optional tools are available for accounts belonging to users aged 13 to 17. Once linked via the Family Center feature, parents can manage their teen’s Twitch experience by setting visibility of content, preventing them from going live, and disabling DMs (whispers), among other features.

These controls empower guardians to monitor their children's activities on a platform historically fraught with privacy and safety concerns. Twitch says teens must invite a parent or guardian to connect their accounts, and either party can unlink them at any time, ensuring these restrictions don't become permanent mandates.

Setting Daily Time Limits for Device Usage

Through the Family Center feature, parents can also establish daily time limits across every device, limiting how long teens can spend on Twitch. Additionally, they have control over which streams appear in searches and recommendations, helping to filter out content with mature themes such as gambling or sexual themes.

This feature allows parents to create a safer online environment for their children, addressing concerns that were highlighted by controversial incidents like Dr Disrespect’s 2017 ban involving private messaging exchanges.

Weekly Activity Summaries via Email

In addition, guardians will receive a weekly email that summarizes their teen's activity on Twitch. This includes information about which channels they watched and the total number of hours spent on the platform. These tools aim to give parents a clearer understanding of their children’s online habits.

The controls are currently optional “at this time”, according to the platform, but Twitch says it may introduce more features in the future as technology evolves. With its user base comprising millions of young people, these new measures represent a significant step towards improving overall safety and security on the platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I activate the parental controls for my child's Twitch account?

Parents or guardians can activate the controls by inviting themselves to connect their accounts via the Family Center feature within Twitch. The process ensures both parties have access and control over setting restrictions.

Can parents enforce permanent bans on certain activities?

No, the restrictions cannot be permanently enforced since either party can unlink at any time. This design aims to respect teenagers’ autonomy while also providing parental oversight.

Are there any fees for using these controls?

The introduction of parental controls is currently free and optional; Twitch has not mentioned any plans to charge for this service.