Streamers Organize Boycott Against Twitch Platform
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Streamers Organize Boycott Against Twitch Platform
Calling for better protection against hate speech
By Allison Murray Allison Murray Tech News Reporter Southern Illinois University Allison reports on all things tech. She's a news junky that keeps her eye on the latest trends. Allison is a writer working out of Chicago, IL, with her only coworker: her cat Norbert. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on August 23, 2021 12:51PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Social Media Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Some Twitch streamers plan to boycott the platform on September 1 to call for more policies and regulations on hate speech. Twitch streamers RekItRaven, Lucia Everblack, and Shineypen organized the hashtag #ADayOffTwitch, encouraging streamers to take a break from the platform and not go live that day in protest of Twitch’s inaction against hate speech, according to IGN. Caspar Camille Rubin / Unsplash The boycott originated earlier this month from the hashtag #TwitchDoBetter, which was used by streamers to ask the platform to better protect marginalized users from the hate speech they frequently experience. Although Twitch said it would launch channel-level ban evasion detection and account verification improvements later this year, streamers are still disappointed in how the platform has handled botting, hate raids, and other forms of harassment. Lucia Everblack said that streamers’ livelihood and access to their community are affected by Twitch’s inactions. "We are pushing for changes that go far beyond simply protecting users," Everblack tweeted. "It’s about giving them a voice, about treating them fairly, and building a stronger community for everyone." The influencers organizing the boycott encourage subscribers and viewers to give their favorite streamers a few extra dollars if they are partaking in the boycott, since streamers will lose out on income by not going live. In response to the upcoming boycott, Twitch said the best way for hate speech to lessen on the platform is for people to report it when it happens, so the company can remove bad actors and their networks. "Hate spam attacks are the result of highly motivated bad actors and do not have a simple fix. Your reports have helped us take action–we've been continually updating our sitewide banned word filters to help prevent variations on hateful slurs, and removing bots when identified," Twitch’s official Twitter account tweeted. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Get Verified on Twitch Twitch: Everything You Need to Know Twitch Subscriptions: What They Are and How They Work How to Link Twitch to Discord 7 Ways to Make Money Streaming Video Games on Twitch How to Set up Donations on Twitch The 7 Most Popular Twitch Emotes of 2022 The Complete List of Twitch Commands The Top 12 Twitch Streamers of 2021 Twitch vs. YouTube Streaming: What's the Difference? 5 Great Chatbots to Take Your Twitch Stream to the Next Level How to Stream on Twitch From a Computer Want More Twitch Followers? Try These 7 Pro Strategies Right Now How to Get Coins on TikTok So You Want to Stream Minecraft Twitch Chat:Things That Confuse Streaming Newbies Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies