Twitch, the popular streaming platform owned by Amazon, will update its policies to include a ban on the use of usernames that have explicit references to sex or hard drugs.
“We want to make Twitch a place where everyone feels at home. We know that curbing hateful behavior and harassment is key to making Twitch a fun and safe place to spend time.”
According to a post published on the official blog, “usernames matter a lot on Twitch” and given their visibility on the site, as they are sought after and have global visibility, it is believed that they must “maintain a high and universal standard of respect. to other places where people can express themselves ” , including chats.
The updated policies establish consistent and stricter guidelines for removing existing inappropriate usernames and thanks to the support of machine learning, already used against those trying to circumvent bans , they will help prevent the creation of new offensive usernames at the moment. registration.
While having removed many abusive usernames behind reports based on current policies, Twitch believes it is necessary to set high standards to “cultivate a global, inclusive and differentiated community” on the platform.
Under the new policy, which goes into effect in early March, Twitch will remove all reported usernames that include “sexual acts, stimulation, fluids or genitals” and references to hard drugs. Alcohol, tobacco and marijuana are excluded. After the expiration, the company says it will suspend users if their existing usernames are “related to hate, harassment, violence, or typically associated with dangerous behavior,” so they clearly violate the Guidelines.
If an existing username violates the new policies but does not represent a clear violation of the Community Guidelines, the account will be flagged for recovery and locked out until changed. Twitch has created an autonomous name change management tool, thanks to which you can change your username while keeping your history, subscriptions, follow and account bits. Once you have changed your username, you will be able to use your account again without any repercussions.
If you try to create a new username that violates the new policies, the machine learning model will report the offending username, forcing the user to create a different one. However, since machine learning isn’t perfect, you may still find a username lying around in violation of these policies. If so, Twitch asks you to submit a report which will be handled by a dedicated team.