App dossier · Livestreaming
Twitch
Developer: Twitch Interactive, Inc.
- US App Store rating13+
- Google Play ratingTeen
Live broadcasts with public chat, creator communities and paid support features. Gaming is only part of the platform. A live stream can change tone quickly, and watching a favorite creator can feel more personal than viewing an edited video.
Official store icon identified from the store listing artwork (opens in new tab). Icon is shown to identify the app; trademark belongs to Twitch Interactive, Inc..
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The essentials
Age, contact, spending
Minimum age
13 minimum; users aged 13–17 must follow Twitch’s parent or guardian requirements. Content labels and individual features are separate limits.
Age check
A birthdate and platform enforcement processes identify teen accounts. The official parent guide describes age restrictions but does not make every viewer a verified peer.
Who can contact teens
Public chat and private Whispers create different risks. Linked parental controls can disable Whispers and prevent a teen from broadcasting.
Disappearing content
Live content can be saved as recordings or clips, and viewers can capture it. A stream ending is not proof that a recording no longer exists.
Public content
A teen who goes live can expose their face, room, voice and routine. Chat messages are visible to the channel’s audience.
Spending
Channel subscriptions, gifted subscriptions and Bits can turn fan participation into recurring or repeated spending. External donation links have their own terms.
Store stats
By the numbers
US App Store
4.72 stars from 2,811,117 ratings, as of October 8, 2026. Apple listing (opens in new tab)
Google Play downloads
100M+ as of October 8, 2026. Google Play listing (opens in new tab)
Official controls
How to set them up
Link Twitch’s teen parental controls
Open Twitch’s Family Center settings. Have the teen request account linking and the parent accept. Review daily limits, Whispers, permission to go live and the activity emails described in the official guide.
Official instructions → (opens in new tab)
Privacy
What gets shared
Review Whispers, profile details and camera backgrounds. Content Classification Labels help describe a stream but are not a guarantee of suitability.
Safety
What parents should know
- Twitch introduced optional linked teen parental controls in July 2026, including limits and disabling Whispers or broadcasting.
- The official guide describes weekly activity information, including spending. Agree on a budget rather than treating paid fan support as a friendship obligation.
Safeguards described here are reported by the company in its own materials (see Twitch: official safety, eligibility or parent guidance (opens in new tab)). They are not independent safety guarantees, and Lowkey has not tested them.
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