The Verge: Twitch will ban people pretending to be naked
Twitch is changing its sexual content policies again, this time to prohibit implied nudity on the platform. The platform already prohibits nudity, but Twitch’s new attire policy, which goes into effect today, also doesn’t allow streamers to “imply or suggest that they are fully or partially nude,” chief customer trust officer Angela Hession says in a blog post.
Twitch's move to further restrict sexual content, including the prohibition of "implied nudity" - a phrase that brings to mind Tumblr's equally vapid and vague "female presenting nipple" ban - begs the question: Is Twitch risking its unique creative edge in a bid to sanitise its platform?
This is the fundamental dilemma facing many social platforms: balancing the need for a safe, litigation and senatorial inquiry-free environment with the preservation of independence and freedom that will draw in creators. Twitch's move to ban not just nudity but also its “implication” is a particularly stringent stance. From the perspective of content creators, it can only be seen as a tightening noose around artistic expression.
The pursuit of 'clean content' on platforms from Twitch to OnlyFans, under the guise of creating a universally palatable space, is a march towards homogeneity and uniformity. The trend is driven by the mainstream ambitions of investors, keen on sanitising the platform to attract a wider, more lucrative market, and by the pressures from pearl-clutching regulators, who react with pitchforks and stump speeches to the slightest hint of controversy. This scrubbed, polished version of the internet alienates the users who form the core communities of the social platforms. Streaming, at its core, thrives on the personality and creativity of its broadcasters. Users are drawn in by the authenticity and personality of creators who push boundaries and explore unconventional content. In stripping away these elements to appease external stakeholders who have never and will never be, understand or empathise with the target audience, platforms risk losing their unique appeal, becoming monochrome landscapes devoid of the ideas that once made them special.
When Twitch imposes ever more strict boundaries, especially in areas as subjective as this, they risk dampening the spirit that has been their lifeblood. The nature of live streaming means the content is unpredictable, and what one moderator deems as "implied nudity" could be seen as harmless fun by another. This inconsistency will lead to frustration among creators who feel they are navigating a minefield, unsure of what might suddenly put them in violation of these new rules.
In my experience, platforms that nurture diverse expressions foster more vibrant and engaged communities. This diversity includes gaming, music, talk shows, and, yes, even streams that might toe the line of what some consider appropriate. This eclectic mix has given Twitch its edge over its competitors.
Twitch must find a way to protect its community without stifling the creativity that attracts viewers and creators alike. One potential solution is the implementation of more nuanced moderation policies, perhaps leveraging advanced AI alongside human judgment to ensure consistency and fairness. Twitch could consider a tiered content system, much like the film rating system, allowing creators and viewers to better understand the content they produce or consume. This approach respects the intelligence and choices of its user base rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all solution.
The challenge lies in striking the right mix of regulation and freedom, ensuring that Twitch remains a space where creativity can flourish within a framework of respect and safety. Only time will tell if Twitch can maintain its edge in the face of these increasing content regulations.
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