2020 Will Be A Difficult Year For Twitch If They Don t Get It Together

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2020 Will Be A Difficult Year For Twitch If They Don t Get It Together

This year has been rough for Twitch. Over the last 12 months, they've seen numerous complaints about their inconsistent moderation. This year has been rough for Twitch. Over the last 12 months, they've seen numerous complaints about their moderation. They've also been accused of being , which has directly led to the departure of some well-known streamers including Ninja and , both of whom had huge followings on Twitch. As rumblings continue about and unclear rules, being shown towards big-name streamers, and the platform's general toxicity, it's clear that Twitch needs to improve - and fast. THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY The situation got so bad over the first two-thirds of the year that at Twitchcon in September, Twitch CEO Emmett Shear took to stage to address the issues. However, his promises were . We've also yet to see the promises of more consistency pan out, with Twitch still showing several signs of this inequality and their tendency to ban first, ask questions later - unless you're . So what does Twitch need to do? Well, they can start by keeping their promises.

Moderation Mayhem

via:youtube.com Moderation right now is an , the new pinnacle of which appears to be that Twitch even managed to ban popular Twitch tool, ! There is zero consistency and streamers are being left and regarding the rules. While many smaller channels are being banned, sometimes for lengthy periods, after , others are facing no consequences for clear and blatant rule-breaking. It also seems that anyone with enough time on their hands can get a streamer banned by . When a small streamer for wearing an outfit you see people walking down the street in, while another flashes their underwear several times with no consequence, things are broken. Twitch needs to find a positive way forward on this.

A Clear Dress Code

via: YouTube (MissElektra666) A first step would be to produce a clear policy for what is and isn't deemed appropriate to wear on stream. While it's that certain items of clothing may be considered too skimpy, so far Twitch's version of this has included and jumpsuits. While Mixer's dress code for its overly conservative nature, at least streamers know where they stand. With Twitch, the rules are vague at best and many creators are confused by what is or isn't acceptable. Once this has been done, the code needs to be properly enforced. This means bans all around for clear infractions, with no exceptions because you're a streamer who brings in a large audience, or because you're a partner. If anything, Twitch should be holding partners to a higher standard as these streamers are supposed to be representing what the platform stands for. Based on that right now, the platform isn't looking too hot.

Quelling Toxicity

As well as moderation, the other key area in which improvements need to be made is with regards to toxicity. Right now many streamers are fostering toxic communities and this is having negative effects on . THump's recent ban highlighted the milder dangers of having a community but he's far from the only streamer with bad apples in his chat. There are also far too many streamers who are themselves toxic, with us seeing bans (or not) for , and, well, . Twitch has also become a place where we've seen many streamers struggle as they are targeted by or sexist trolls. We've also seen a rise in the - when armed police are wrongfully called to a streamer's home expecting danger - with one being Clix, who is just 14 years old. Moderation needs to expand to abusive community members as well as those who are streaming. Viewers need to be more aware of the reporting system for abusive users and it needs to be properly utilized and consequences given.

Consistency Is Key

Via: Twitch (Pray4Cthulhu) Above all else, Twitch needs to be consistent. At the moment, the is the cause of most issues and the biggest cause of headaches for smaller streamers. Bans can have a huge effect on streamers, and smaller creators especially will often have income sources. These mistakes and accidental bans have a huge impact. After his five day ban for "invasion of privacy" after he streamed at a restaurant, with permission, PaymoneyWubby spoke out about the issue and many agreed.

Choosing A Platform

Currently, Twitch is counting on its name and audience share, rather than . It still leads the way when it comes to viewer accounts and this is propping it up right now. However, for the first time in a long time, other genuine competitors are springing up and they've got money behind them. Mixer may not be dominating yet, but if Microsoft plays their cards right it The movement of a over to the platform has given it a boost, but it will be new streamers who truly the playing field. Many are attracted by the sheer number of viewers on Twitch, but there are also a huge number of broadcasters. Sometimes being in a smaller pond can give you more exposure, similar to how you can more easily find indie games on The Epic Store rather than on the behemoth that is Steam, where everything is so abundant that small titles get lost. If Mixer can provide a warm, friendly environment where toxicity is stamped out and rules are clear and consistent, then streamers looking to establish themselves are far more likely to be tempted. Seeing so many small Twitch channels for breaking rules they didn't even know about doesn't create a good impression. If Twitch doesn't fast, then 2020 could quite easily become the year of Mixer. Or FB Gaming. Miracles can happen, after all.