Twitch, the beloved streaming giant, continues to refine its policies in an ongoing bid to create a welcoming environment for all audiences.
The newest update takes a firm stance against streams that heavily focus on clothed intimate body parts, aiming to curtail lingering softcore content that thrives on the platform.
Will this shift create a more family-friendly space, or stifle the creative expression of streamers?
What’s changing in Twitch and why?
Starting Friday, streamers will no longer be permitted to broadcast extended content showcasing “buttocks, groin, or breasts” – even if covered by clothing. This modification arrives as the platform attempts to navigate the tricky terrain of moderation. The platform, while widely known for gaming, has also become a hub for diverse content – from casual chatting to hot tub streams – some of which push the limits of what’s deemed acceptable.
“Our goal, always, is to make Twitch a welcoming place…” a Twitch spokesperson commented. This change signals a move towards greater clarity and stricter enforcement in response to shifting online trends.
So what are we talking about and what’s being prohibited? Let @scubaryan_ on X explain:
I’ve officially seen it all 💀pic.twitter.com/gZ96jSa3hD
— ryan 🤿 (@scubaryan_) March 16, 2024
Not Twitch’s first rodeo
Twitch’s journey to strike a healthy balance in moderation isn’t new.
Recent months have seen tweaks and reversals in Twitch’s policy, including a brief flirtation with allowing artistic nudity that was quickly retracted following community pushback. The platform has also grappled with streamers’ use of suggestive black bars or similar tactics to imply nudity, prompting stricter rules in January of this year.
These changes highlight the complex and ever-evolving challenge of managing a platform as diverse as Twitch.
The platform’s many faces
Twitch’s initial explosion in popularity stemmed from its focus on video games and esports. However, over the years, it has morphed into a hub for a vast spectrum of creators – cooks, ASMR artists, and more. Some adult-oriented content has also found a home on the platform, with streamers skirting the rules to link to more explicit content on external sites like OnlyFans.
Research highlights some troublesome trends. Studies like the one published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications indicate a pattern of female streamers feeling pressured to self-sexualize to compete in a male-dominated environment. This dynamic can foster hostility and harassment.
Taking all these into account, the platform has announced its decision with the following words on X:
Our Community Guidelines are designed to help make Twitch a welcoming place. Content on Twitch is always evolving, and we want to make sure our rules work as intended and keep up with emerging behaviors. When needed, we make updates to our rules to capture those shifts in…
— Twitch Support (@TwitchSupport) March 27, 2024
Finding the balance is a challenging endeavor
Twitch, to some extent, does permit content with “Sexual Themes” as long as it’s properly labeled, ensuring it doesn’t clutter the main feeds. However, the new rules signal a narrowing of what falls within this allowance.
The question remains: will this update successfully curb overly suggestive content and create a more inclusive Twitch, or could it disproportionately impact streamers who rely on body-centric expression like fitness or dance?
Only time will tell how creators adapt to this new landscape.
Featured image credit: Caspar Camille Rubin/Unsplash
