Live streaming is permanent. Clips are forever. Anything you do on stream can be screenshotted, clipped, and redistributed — and that goes for chat too. Every second you’re live is permanent exposure — anyone watching can clip it, screenshot it, and redistribute it without your knowledge or consent.
DO / DON’T
DO:
- Be cautious when interacting with people in Twitch Chat — people aren’t always who they say they are
- Remember privacy concerns when using your real name and birthdate for registration
- Change your password periodically and enable Two-Factor Authentication
DON’T:
- Do anything on stream you wouldn’t want the world to see permanently — anyone could be watching and creating a clip
- Connect with people you don’t know or trust
Viewers: Account Setup & Privacy
Path: Top right (profile picture) > Settings > Profile tab
- Profile Picture: Choose carefully — it’s public to everyone
- Profile Banner, Username, Display Name, Bio: Don’t include anything too personal here
Path: Settings > Security and Privacy > Security
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication for additional account protection
- Review and update Contact information
Path: Settings > Security and Privacy > Privacy tab
If you are a viewer: it is recommended you enable all privacy protections available.
Streamers: Additional Settings
If you are a streamer: privacy settings in the Privacy tab may need to remain enabled for community interaction to function — review each one carefully based on your setup.
Moderation (Streamers Only)
Path: Settings > Moderation
- Enable Auto Mod — regulates what viewers can type in your channel
- Set AutoMod filter to Maximum
- Add custom permitted and blocked terms beyond what Auto Mod catches automatically
- Channel Privileges:
- Enable Email and Phone Verification for all chatters — this raises the barrier for throwaways and bots
- Add custom Chat Rules — these display when someone enters your chat for the first time
- Review banned chatters in your channel regularly
- You set the floor for your chat. Configure it like it matters, because it does.
Enable 2FA in Settings → Security and Privacy → Security. Whether you stream or just watch, your account is worth protecting.