
Kids might not realize, for example, that their activity could be shared with other users unless they unclick that option. Twitch has included some features to help protect users' privacy, such as the ability to be invisible when observing a chat conversation, but with the amount of streams available to watch and profile settings and functions to review, the privacy protections can be easy to overlook. Some mention drinking and other vices, and it's not uncommon for site users to praise the violence that's shown in games. Dropping in on someone's uncensored conversation can expose kids to swearing and sexual references they may also come across vloggers with ample cleavage and others who hit viewers up for financial contributions. But the community aspect is also the site's biggest concern. In addition to viewing cooking demonstrations and other content, kids can, without much effort, find other people to geek out about their favorite game with. But with channels and conversations in a number of languages, content scheduled to stream at different times around the clock, and videos playing automatically, it doesn't take much poking around to find something else to watch. Fewer channels seem to touch on other subjects, such as drawing and programming on some, conversations feel like they move much slower than the gaming talk, with less dynamic visuals. Gaming fans on Twitch will find detailed, fast-paced discussions and be able to view game-playing experiences. The gaming-related content is the high point of this streaming-friendly site, which has varied content, but it can hard to tell whether a broadcast is safe for kids or is for adults only. Read the privacy policy on the website to find out about the information that's collected and shared. There's also a fair amount of product promotion on the site for Amazon Prime, channel subscriptions, and other items, and kids will periodically see ads before and during streams. Plus, a number of games feature a significant amount of shooting and violence, so it's up to viewers to pay attention to the games being streamed and the kinds of games a streamer likes to play to avoid certain kinds of content. Many users and streamers make drug and alcohol references during broadcasts, too. Language is often a free-for-all during live feeds, with "f-k" and other swear words frequently used, even though channel streamers are supposed to indicate whether they'll use mature language during a stream. But even with these standards, kids may encounter iffy stuff.

The site also makes a concerted effort to keep sexual content from being shared, putting temporary or permanent bans on users who break these rules.

It has many settings that can help restrict kids' contact with other users, such as options that block private chat-room invites. Parents need to know that Twitch is an online streaming site that covers both gaming and non-gaming content.
