Live streaming
Live streaming allows you to share presentations or events as broadcasts to other people. Being aware of the benefits and risks when using this feature can help you stay safe online.
On this page:
What is live streaming?
Live streaming lets you broadcast video over the internet and keep a record of it. For example, you may be presenting a webinar or sharing a feed of an event as it happens. You could be streaming to one person or to thousands, depending on the settings and online service being used. All you need is an internet connected device with a camera and an online platform, like a website or app, to stream your broadcast.
Live streaming is different from video chat, as it does not have two-way audio and video communication by default. Instead, you need to invite ‘guests’ to add their video to a stream.
Often users can also leave written comments on your stream, which you can respond to in real time as you’re presenting. Depending on your settings, these comments may also be visible to everyone else watching the stream.
The benefits of live streaming
Sharing moments with others
It is easy to share a special moment with your family, friends or followers with live streaming. It could be a birthday, graduation or other personal event that not everyone can join in person.
Live streamed moments don’t have to be special or significant – people reacting to other content, unboxing everyday items and online gaming are some of the popular topics people stream.
The comments help your online connections join in on the moment and show their support.
Citizen journalism
Anyone with a smartphone can now live stream. People can record and broadcast events such as natural disasters, accidents or political events in real time and give commentary as it happens. These streams can sometimes be re-reported and expanded upon by mainstream news outlets. The livestreams of citizen journalists can also give more information and context to the stories some media organisations produce.
Watch events and performances
Live streaming lets you watch events such as concerts, conferences or sports that you’re unable to join in person. As well as the actual event, performers, sportspeople, celebrities and other participants sometimes live stream behind the scenes – or after an event or game – to connect with their fans.
Live streaming has also created new audiences, like groups who use dedicated online services and channels to watch each other play video games online.
The risks of live streaming
Live streaming can impact your digital footprint
If you live stream, it’s easy to do things in the moment without thinking through what you have shared. This could be giving away more information about yourself than you planned or an opinion that you later regret making public, such as something said in anger.
People might also trick you and use flattery in the comments to get you to do things that you otherwise wouldn’t want people to see or hear.
Some live streaming services allow others to share your broadcast or a copy of it. Your livestream could also be screen captured and recorded without you knowing. Once captured, it can be easily shared on any platform and could be hard to delete. This means anything you stream might form part of your lasting digital footprint.
Learn more about your digital reputation created by all the things you say and do online.
Unwanted or unsafe contact
Unwanted contact is any type of online communication that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or harassed. It can be with a stranger or someone you know. You may actually welcome the contact at first, until the other person says or does something you don't like.
You might receive unwanted contact from followers or other people on the platform when you’re live streaming, depending on what your privacy settings are. While you can usually block some accounts, they might try to contact you again from a different account or find you on other online platforms you belong to. Details in your background could also share your location while you’re live streaming and put your safety at risk.
Read more about unwanted and unsafe contact, cyberstalking and how to manage your digital safety settings.
Online bullying and other types of abuse
Not everyone is respectful online. There is a risk that you could be bullied or abused in other ways while live streaming, especially if you don’t know the person or their profile is anonymous.
Read more about cyberbullying and adult cyber abuse to find out how to manage the impacts if this happens to you or someone you know.
‘Sextortion’ and other types of image-based abuse
Sharing a livestream of intimate content without the consent of the person shown is a type of image-based abuse and is illegal. Threatening to share a recording of the livestream is also illegal.
If you are involved in sexual activity during a livestream, the person you are sending it to may record it by taking a screen capture (‘capping’) without you knowing. If they are a scammer, they are likely to try to blackmail you for money or more intimate content by threatening to share the recording online or directly with your contacts.
Learn more about image-based abuse and how to deal with sexual extortion.
Seeing inappropriate or distressing content
People can live stream anything, including illegal acts or content that is not age-appropriate. There have been many cases of people live streaming themselves committing acts of extreme violence or terrorism. Since live streaming is in real time, it’s difficult to moderate the content. Live streams with distressing content and recordings made of them may be available for some time before being taken down from an online service or blocked by an internet service provider (ISP).
Learn more about illegal and restricted online content and how to report.
Advice on live streaming of children
There may be times when children are involved in live streams, such as to share a special moment or a skill online. Whether the livestream is part of your professional, personal or community life, it’s important for adults to know live streaming can put children and young people at risk of online harm, especially if it is broadcast to an unknown audience.
To keep children and young people safe, remember these tips:
- Many apps usually only allow you to live stream if you’re 18 years or older.
- Avoid encouraging a child or young person to join live streaming activities as it may increase the risk of unsafe contact, cyberbullying, online child sexual abuse and sexual extortion.
- If a child or young person is part of a livestream, make sure there is a responsible guardian to supervise their involvement and manage their experience. This might include making sure comments are off or moderated before the child or young person sees the livestream.
Find more safety advice in our Parents section. Our Communities section also has tailored advice, including for sports clubs.
More information
Visit The eSafety Guide to find out more about specific online services, platforms and games using live streaming.
Read about the legal powers eSafety has to help protect people who live in Australia from the most serious online abuse and harmful content. You can also download and print our quick guides about different types of online abuse, which include key information and advice:
- Cyberbullying quick guide (available in five languages)
- Adult cyber abuse quick guide (available in more than 10 languages)
- Image-based abuse quick guide.
Last updated: 15/08/2024
