Common Sense Media Review
By Keri Wilmot
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Livestreaming with chat, mostly for gamers; mature content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Caffeine: Live Streaming
Privacy Rating Warning
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
What's It About?
CAFFEINE: LIVE STREAMING is an entertainment app that includes live broadcasts by creators, broadcast companies, and some celebrities such as Drake. Scroll or search through the channels, schedule, or broadcasters to find a stream of interest. When viewers join a feed, the creator is alerted and can comment specifically to them using their screen name. While watching a broadcast, viewers can chat using text and emojis. Buy "gold" through in-app purchases ranging from 10 coins for $0.99 to 2,800 coins for $249.99. Share the gold with creators or cash it in to send pictures to broadcasters like a wave (3 coins), balloons (5 coins), or a potato (999 coins). Users can find people to follow and have others follow them. Many channels post a schedule of what they plan on streaming for a specific date and time.
Is It Any Good?
This livestreaming app is absolutely for teens and adults, primarily those who have interests in topics such as video games, action sports, and rap music. Watching a livestream of someone else engaging in an activity is mostly a passive pastime. But Caffeine: Live Stream has an interactive element in that it allows users to engage with creators in real time. It's definitely fun to join a broadcast, send comments, and hear the creator give you a personal screen name shout-out. Some teens may find it appealing to join a supportive community of others who have similar interests, though parents may want to make sure that the community is actually supportive and welcoming. Also, parents should be aware that there's often lots of mature content in a stream and/or chat. As dictated by community rules, most creators list their broadcast feeds as 17+ because they plan on swearing while streaming, drinking or smoking (or referencing such behavior), or doing other activities that require that age-range setting. For parents who have purchasing preferences set in the app, teens won't be able to buy gold through an in-app purchase without inputting an iTunes or Google password.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how teens can engage with creators and broadcasters in real time with Caffeine: Live Streaming. What are some appropriate questions to ask? What kinds of comments are good to share and what shouldn't be shared?
It's fun and exciting when a broadcaster notices you join the feed and says your screen name out loud. What are your family rules around this type of interaction?
The Caffeine: Live Streaming community rules prevent explicit information, violence, hateful words and actions, bullying, and other negative things. What should you do if you notice a creator violating these rules?
A screen name is required to use Caffeine. What is an appropriate screen name to use when signing up?
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
- Pricing structure : Free (In-App Purchases For "Gold" range from $0.99 to $249.00)
- Release date : August 7, 2019
- Genre : Entertainment
- Publisher : Caffeine Inc.
- Version : 5.4.1
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 12.2 or later; Android 6.0 and up
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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