YouTube is introducing a new age restriction next month

The platform will soon raise the minimum age for solo livestreaming and add stricter rules for teen creators.

Jun 25, 2025 - 21:48

YouTube is introducing a new age restriction next month

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

YouTube will raise the minimum age to livestream from 13 to 16 starting July 22.
13–15-year-olds can still appear in streams, but only with an adult visibly present.
Live chat may be disabled or streams removed if underage users appear alone.

Back in February, Google announced it would start using machine learning to estimate users’ real ages on YouTube, aiming to catch people who lie about their date of birth. The platform now looks to tightening the screws even further with new age-based restrictions on livestreaming.

Starting July 22, users must be at least 16 to go live on YouTube. Previously, anyone 13 and up could stream if they met other eligibility requirements. According to a newly updated Help page, the change is part of YouTube’s broader efforts to protect minors, and it comes with additional limitations for teen creators who still appear in live content.