Have you heard about Twitch? Even if you haven’t, your kids probably spend time watching or broadcasting on it. In addition to earlier reporting where women came forward with accusations of harassment and abuse, Twitch has since formalized broader rules and reporting around harassment and hateful conduct, publishes regular Transparency Reports, and maintains a dedicated Hateful Conduct & Harassment Policy.
Beyond investigations and account actions, Twitch introduced stronger safety tooling for channels and moderators, including one‑click Shield Mode, Suspicious Users (ban‑evasion flags), Shared Ban Info to network with peer communities, and phone/email‑verified chat. These are layered on top of moderation features like AutoMod and blocked terms to help reduce exposure to abuse in chat.
For parents asking “is it safe?” it helps to know the scale and who watches. Industry tracking shows that in 2025, Twitch accounts for roughly 70–73% of hours watched among major live platforms, with each quarter totaling about 5.6–5.9 billion hours; typical average concurrent viewers are in the ~2.3–2.7 million range. The audience skews male (~73–75%) with a strong 18–34 core, and the United States is the largest single market; “Just Chatting” is the most‑watched category. Sources: Streamlabs & Stream Hatchet, Streams Charts, TwitchTracker, Similarweb, and State of the Stream.
What is Twitch?
Twitch.tv is a live, interactive streaming platform where creators broadcast gaming, music, art, and “IRL” content while viewers participate via chat, emotes, and channel features. It’s not exclusively gaming: “Just Chatting” consistently ranks No. 1 by hours watched in 2025 (monthly State of the Stream reports). Viewers watch across PC, mobile, and connected TVs; live viewership typically sits in the low‑to‑mid millions concurrently in 2025 (TwitchTracker).
Twitch’s audience and content mix are large and global. Industry reports show quarterly hours watched in the mid‑5‑billion range and a dominant share versus competitors (Streamlabs & Stream Hatchet; Streams Charts). The audience skews ~73–75% male with ~70% aged 18–34, and the U.S. leads by visit share (Similarweb). High‑profile creators have influenced policies and platform strategy: for example, Ninja left for Mixer (Ninja left in 2019), and Dr Disrespect was banned on Twitch with subsequent developments, including his public acknowledgment of inappropriate messaging with a minor and later YouTube terminating his channel in 2024 (context). These episodes underscore why platforms hardened rules and enforcement.
Another issue that put Twitch on the news recently was their decision to suspend Trump’s channel for “Hateful Conduct”.
Subscriptions and transactions in Twitch
What makes Twitch appealing to creators and viewers is the mix of community and monetization. Fans support streamers via channel subscriptions, Gifted Subs, Bits (micro‑tips), Hype Trains, and newer features like Hype Chat, alongside ad revenue sharing. Bits pay streamers a fixed $0.01 USD per Bit when used in their channel (Cheering Basics), and creators using Ads Manager receive 55% of net ad revenue with pre‑roll reductions when scheduled breaks are run (Ads in Your Broadcast).
Subscriptions remain central. Tier prices are typically $4.99/$9.99/$24.99 (with localized pricing in many regions). The default revenue split is 50/50 (net of taxes/fees), but Twitch now offers a performance‑based path to improved splits through its Plus Program. Eligible Affiliates and Partners who sustain required counts of paid and gifted recurring subs for three consecutive months unlock better splits for a 12‑month period—first to 60/40 and, at higher thresholds, to 70/30—up to a capped earnings amount (program expansion coverage; see also Subscriptions on Twitch). Prime Gaming subs support creators but do not count toward Plus qualification. Payouts typically have a $50 minimum with methods/fees documented by region (Payouts). Historical coverage highlighted multi‑million‑dollar earnings for top creators (making over $5.5 million), but most creators earn modestly and rely on a mix of subs, ads, Bits, and sponsorships.
A common misconception is that big streamers “keep 100%” of earnings. On Twitch, the default split is 50/50, with improved 60/40 and 70/30 tiers available via the Plus Program up to a cap. Ad revenue shares are standardized at 55% when using Ads Manager (details). For comparison, YouTube channel memberships use a 70/30 split (YouTube help), while Facebook’s Stars tipping pays $0.01 per Star to creators (Stars).
Recent scandals
While most Twitch content is benign, live communities can expose kids to adult language, harassment, or inappropriate behavior, especially in fast‑moving chats. Understanding the platform’s safety policies and tools—and how to use them—is essential for families.
As a response to allegations from users, Twitch strengthened enforcement and now prohibits harassment, hateful conduct, and sexual harassment under its Hateful Conduct & Harassment Policy. Twitch may also act on certain severe off‑platform harms through its Off‑Service Misconduct Policy. Enforcement ranges from warnings and temporary suspensions to permanent/indefinite bans, with an appeals pathway (Account Suspensions). Twitch summarizes actions and investments in periodic Transparency Reports. High‑profile cases demonstrate that enforcement applies to marquee streamers as well; for example, YouTube terminated Dr Disrespect’s channel in 2024 following his acknowledgment of inappropriate messaging with a minor (admission; termination).
Twitch’s terms prohibit users under 13. Creators can raise friction for would‑be harassers by requiring phone/email‑verified chat for first‑time or all chatters and by enabling stronger verification during high‑risk moments.
Channel teams should also apply modern mod tooling: tune AutoMod and blocked terms, use Suspicious Users to flag likely ban‑evaders, opt into Shared Ban Info with peer communities, and trigger Shield Mode during raids/brigading. These tools reduce risk, but no system is perfect, so parental oversight still matters.
Twitch vs. Facebook Gaming and YouTube Gaming
In 2025 comparisons, Twitch remains the live‑stream leader by hours watched (~70–73% share), YouTube Gaming Live is a clear No. 2, and Facebook Gaming’s footprint is much smaller. YouTube stands out for native 4K/60fps live support (encoder settings) and strong VOD discovery, while Twitch leads on live‑first culture and community tools but generally recommends up to 1080p/60fps bitrates for most channels (Broadcast Guidelines). Twitch also now allows simulcasting with conditions, reducing exclusivity lock‑in (Simulcasting on Twitch). Facebook still supports gaming streams and tipping (Stars pay $0.01 each; Stars), but industry share is small (industry report). Some creators, including high‑profile names, also stream or host content on YouTube Gaming—for example, Ninja has streamed there in addition to other platforms (picked YouTube Gaming as his streaming platform.) Twitch also exited South Korea in early 2024 due to network costs, which shifted some regional viewing elsewhere (Twitch in Korea).
Microsoft also tried to compete in the space with Mixer, but in June 2020 announced that the platform was shutting down this Summer. Recent years have seen headline creator deals on emerging platforms (e.g., xQc’s reported $100M deal with Kick; BBC), yet the industry has shifted away from strict exclusivity toward multi‑platform presence—supported by Twitch’s simulcasting policy—so long‑term market share tends to follow product, community, and monetization fundamentals (policy shift).
Six tips to keep your kids safe on game streaming platforms
While demanding accountability from Twitch and the other platforms is important, there are also things you can do to prevent your 13-year-old from being exposed to harmful behaviors and inappropriate content. We spoke with experts about internet safety recommendations, and what to do to protect them while they are online. Combine in‑app tools with device‑level controls like Apple’s Screen Time and YouTube’s supervised/YouTube Kids experiences for time limits and stricter catalogs (Apple Screen Time; YouTube Kids).
Tip 1: Update Parental Controls
Brian Santiago, a security operations engineer, mentions that platforms like these lack proper content filtering and parental controls. The best way to go is to access your kid’s account and “make sure that the options to block messages and gifts from strangers are toggled”. Santiago warns that these settings are not permanent and can be easily reversed, so you’ll have to check the account settings frequently…kids are slick! In Twitch specifically, set a safety baseline: require phone/email‑verified chat for new or first‑time chatters, tune AutoMod and blocked terms, and pre‑configure Shield Mode so you can harden a channel instantly during an attack. If your child streams, opt into Shared Ban Info with trusted communities to preempt known harassers.
Tip 2: Restrict Mature Content for Children
Matthew Abraham, blogger, avid gamer, and parent of two teenage gamers recognizes that it was better to restrict content than prohibiting his kids from playing online. He says that “disabling mature content on Twitch in the settings is a good place to start.” Mature content is usually inappropriate for children and teenagers and the setting may block some streamers who use profane language and other material unsuitable for children. Beyond Twitch, use profile‑based ratings and PIN locks on streaming apps your child can access (for example, Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Max) and rely on device‑level tools like Screen Time for time limits and downtime.
Tip 3: Monitor your Children’s Activity on Twitch
Tricia Lewis, executive vice president of HackEDU, suggests that parents should monitor closely the channels their children watch on game streaming platforms and conversations users are having in the chats. Make sure that you spend a few minutes getting a feel of what’s being discussed in the chat and how the streamer talks to his audience. She says that parents should be aware of how the content filters work and “understand that these settings are not foolproof, and there are no real parental controls for the service.” If your child is a creator, encourage them to keep Mod View open and to use follower‑only/slow/emote‑only chat modes when needed; combine those with chat verification during sensitive segments.
Tip 4: Use Chat Filters
Verónica González, a dedicated gamer and avid Twitch user since 2013, highlights that you can “turn on chat filters to hide unwanted messages in any chat across Twitch.” She adds that in case of any discrimination, sexually explicit language, hostility, and profanity, there are settings like the “ignore” feature, which means that a person’s message will no longer appear on screen. Also enable AutoMod at an appropriate level, maintain a blocked‑terms list, and have moderators review Suspicious Users flags so likely ban‑evaders are held for review before their messages appear.
Tip 5: Personal Information is a No-No
Santiago encourages parents to warn their children about sharing personal details about themselves or the family to anyone they meet online. “Personal Identifiable Information (PII) can be easily extracted from naive kids who are enticed by strangers. If you’re alerted about unusual behavior from strangers at any point, you can report the account to Twitch for review,” he says. Use in‑product reporting for harassment or threats; if a situation suggests severe off‑platform harms, include all evidence in your report (see Twitch’s Off‑Service Misconduct Policy for scope).
Tip 6: Explain the Dangers of the Web
All our experts concur that you need to have an open talk about the internet and the dangers that come with it. Scaring them can work, but honesty, clarity, and a free line of communication go a long way. Teach your kids to avoid situations that look suspicious, dangerous, or inappropriate. And develop a trusting relationship so they know they can come to you when they come across something unsafe online. As live content blends with short‑form highlights and co‑streamed events, emphasize healthy viewing habits and where to get help; for older teens who post content, discuss basic creator safety and why they should avoid sharing personal info on multi‑platform streams. For context on industry trends, see live‑stream share and platform shifts (industry data) and how tools like AI dubbing are entering creator workflows (YouTube Aloud).
