Twitch is now taking the “judgemental parent” role when it comes to its livestreamers, telling them to cover up or else they face being banned.
This change to the streaming platform’s terms of service will mean that the likes of Kaceytron (pictured above), a streamer who actively (and hilariously) plays on the prejudices of a male-dominated audience with profitable results, will probably be forced to wear turtlenecks from now on. It’s an odd change, and Twitch seemed to acknowledge that it’s a rather awkward one given the light-hearted tone of the official statement the company put out.
Nerds are sexy, beautiful creatures, but let’s try and keep this about the games, shall we?
The statement reads: “Dress…appropriately. Nerds are sexy, and you’re all magnificent, beautiful creatures, but let’s try and keep this about the games, shall we? Wearing no clothing or sexually suggestive clothing – including lingerie, swimsuits, pasties, and undergarments — is prohibited, as well as any full nude torsos, which applies to both male and female broadcasters.
“You may have a great six-pack, but that’s better shared on the beach during a 2-on-2 volleyball game blasting “Playing with the Boys.” We sell t-shirts, and those are always acceptable. #Kappa”
It’s not certain how Twitch will uphold this new change to the terms of service, nor whether they’ll be asking those who dress “suggestively” to cover up. While it’ll be easy for the company to flat-out ban those who are wearing minimal clothing in order to livestream, how will they confront those who are wearing perfectly “acceptable” clothing but who are deemed “sexually suggestive” regardless, such as Kaceytron?
This rule change comes after the streaming service was acquired by Amazon, who purchased the company for a whopping $970 million. The company is likely attempting to make itself more of a professional avenue with this change to its terms of service, but I can see plenty of controversy down the road as a result of this.
