Parents' Guide to LiveMe - Live Video Chat

The appeal of live video streaming is clear -- some people get famous, and others thrive on the immediate connection and feedback, however shallow -- but is it appropriate for tweens and teens? Parents will want to arm kids with solid digital literacy before letting them broadcast or view (if they allow it at all). It's worth noting that most broadcasts are completely uneventful: One user had music playing while showing his ceiling, and many others showed bored-looking teens staring at their screens, saying "Hi, spam my Instagram" and asking for likes and follows. No one was showcasing talent or meaningful content. However, another featured the broadcaster and commenters trading racial slurs and profanity, and another showed 10-year-olds and a 13-year-old being asked to dance provocatively and show body parts. In all cases, the broadcasters called out their inappropriate commenters and/or blocked them. But would most kids respond in the same way? If tweens and teens want to use it, parents may want to set clear boundaries on where it can be used (is behind closed bedroom doors OK?) and equip them with how to handle rude, obnoxious, or inappropriate commenters. Teens also freely shared their other social media handles with strangers, so knowing how to stay safe and maintain privacy is another critical element.