In this guide
Moderation is part of the production
An IRL streamer can't film, walk, watch traffic, and check every chat message at the same time. Clear roles, technical filters, and an emergency route protect the streamer, viewers, and bystanders.
1. Assigning roles before the stream
- At least one reachable moderator knows your route and roughly how long you'll be out.
- Moderators know when timeouts, bans, or a private scene are needed.
- A production helper can reach OBS or Streamer.bot.
- The emergency contact goes through a private channel, not through the public chat.
| Role | Job | Reachable via |
|---|---|---|
| Moderator | Knows your route and roughly how long you'll be out, hands out timeouts and bans, slows the chat | Platform chat, private channel |
| Production helper | Can get at OBS or Streamer.bot and switches to BRB or the private scene | Private channel, Streamer.bot Deck |
| Emergency contact | Gets a call or a message if there are problems | Private channel, never the public chat |
| Streamer | Decides on the spot and ends the stream if there's danger | Mute or the private scene is right at hand on your phone |
A short briefing before you start is often enough. Who can be reached? Which messages have you agreed on? And when do you slow the chat or pause the stream? Feedback like “audio is missing” or “picture is frozen” is covered under Checking your stream on the go.
2. Keeping up with chat on the move
You can follow chat on the streaming smartphone, a second device, or through TTS. TTS should only read out suitable messages, and links, spam, repeats, and sensitive terms get filtered. While moving, chat must not distract you from traffic.
| Method | Good for | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Streaming smartphone | Chat right in view | Only look at the screen when you're safely stopped |
| Second device | Chat separate from the encoder | Needs its own battery and its own data connection |
| TTS | Having selected messages read aloud | Filter out links, spam, and touchy terms |
3. Rules, filters, and channel points
- Turn on AutoMod and platform filters.
- Block phone numbers, addresses, and abusive terms.
- Limit channel point actions with a cooldown and a cost.
- No viewer action may turn off safety features for good.
- Document moderation decisions after the stream.
The filters are named differently on each platform. Test your rules once before the stream with a test account or a test message. I wouldn't rely on the default values.
4. Protecting your location and bystanders
Don't answer questions about your exact address, where you're staying, or your way back. Chat messages can steer viewers to your current location on purpose. Turn off the GPS map in sensitive places, and don't show names, license plates, or documents unnecessarily.
5. Emergency plan
- Keep mobile mute or the private scene within immediate reach.
- The moderator can close or limit the chat.
- The production helper can switch OBS to BRB.
- In danger, end the stream and contact local help.
- Afterward, review recordings and clips with sensitive content.
You can build a BRB screen with the BRB overlay generator. What to do about technical outages is in the emergency and outage plan.
6. Common questions about chat and moderation
Do I need moderators if my chat is still small?
It's not required. You should still have someone you trust on call who knows your route and roughly how long you'll be out. Even if hardly anything is happening in chat. In an emergency, they can slow the chat, reach you privately, and get help.
Should TTS read out every chat message?
No. Have links, spam, repeats, and touchy terms filtered out. Otherwise something private or insulting can easily go out on the stream unchecked. How to set that up is in the TTS guide.
How do I stop viewers from finding out my location?
Don't answer questions about your exact address, where you're staying, or your way back. In sensitive places, turn off the GPS map. Show names, license plates, and documents only when necessary. Complete protection is never guaranteed. That's why a mod filter for addresses and numbers should run alongside.
Who decides when the moderator and streamer disagree?
Sort that out before the stream. A simple rule: safety comes first. If there's danger or uncertainty, the stream is paused or ended. More on that is in the emergency and outage plan.
How do I limit channel point actions?
Give every action a cooldown and a price. And no action may turn off mute, the private scene, or BRB for good. How reward redemptions become OBS actions is covered in the Streamer.bot guide.
Setup service & consulting
If you'd like help with your setup or with troubleshooting, you can reach out in the IRL4YOU Discord.