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EMMA-LOUISE: With live streaming, you can share moments of your life instantly, document live events, and create a show out of activities like online gaming, that you would otherwise experience alone. Most of us are casual live streamers, posting the occasional video story, but some people have made careers out of it.

However you use it, it’s important to remember there are risks to live streaming which you should bear in mind to avoid any unintended consequences. For example, you could say something that you might regret later. It can be easy to forget that anyone could be watching or even recording.

So any casual remark you might regret or mistakes you might have made, could live on in the digital world, even if we take the video down. Mikey, used to be in a popular band that toured the UK. He spoke to us a bit about his experience of live streaming.

FRANKIE: At first, Mikey loved touring with his band, but eventually he grew tired of the constant travel and decided it was time to quit. After announcing he was leaving to spend more time at home with his family, he took questions from fans during a live stream. He answered honestly that he no longer enjoyed the band life because he was missing his family. But lots of people quoted him out of context and made it sound like he and his band mates had fallen out. It made him sound ungrateful and entitled.

EMMA-LOUISE: Mikey said this sort of thing happens all the time. Because you’re live, there’s often a pressure to be spontaneous and conversational. But he reminded us that when you're talking about a sensitive subject, it’s a good idea to take your time and think about your words. In fact, you don’t have to say anything at all if you don’t want. That’s true whether you’re making a casual post or you’re a professional live-streamer. Mikey also reminded us about the risks when people you don’t know start watching your live streams.

FRANKIE: People would invite Mikey to meet up during a live stream, or by messaging him afterwards on social media. Sometimes they even posted their location in the comments, which actually put themselves at risk. He’s also received nasty comments from followers online. And some of his friends have been bullied during and after live streams.

EMMA-LOUISE: You can report and block users who act inappropriately on most apps. So don’t hesitate to use this option if you feel uncomfortable. And whether you’re watching or streaming, never share your location. Remember, you can do this by accident, so be mindful of your surroundings. A street sign could tip viewers off to your location, and a famous landmark in the background could be a dead giveaway.

Finally, Mikey warned us about gifts. Many apps give users the option of giving gifts to streamers, but these cost real money. If anyone you don’t know watches your streams and offers to give you a gift be wary as they may follow this up by asking for a photo or to meet up. Even if they’ve given you a gift, you don’t owe them anything. And if anyone does anything to make you feel uncomfortable, tell a trusted adult straight away. Now, none of these risks mean we should never live stream. They just mean when we do, we should be aware of what can happen, and take sensible precautions.