In 2022, Twitch has outlined how it plans to protect its streamers from harassment while also combating practices such as hate raids.
On January 12th, Twitch’s Vice President of Global Trust and Safety, Angela Hession, published an open letter. It outlines the steps the platform has taken to combat “unacceptable” trends in 2021, as well as what they hope to achieve in the coming year.
Twitch is looking into new ways to protect its streamers from the harassment and hate attacks that erupted in 2021.
Streamers will have access to a few new features in the new year, according to the company:
- The user reporting and appeals process has been improved.
- Updates to how Suspicious User Detection data can be used by Creators.
- Twitch’s sexual content policy has been updated.
- User feedback has inspired updates about the Twitch Safety Advisory Council.
- On Twitch Safety Center, live streams, and more, there will be more and better educational content and programming.
- By giving Twitch streamers more tools, the company hopes to deter users from engaging in harmful behavior and empower communities with tools they can control.
In addition, the company wants to educate people about safe practices and communication, as well as strike a balance with content that “may not appeal to all audiences.”
The open letter follows a difficult year for Twitch, which saw top streamers migrate to YouTube and native broadcasters grapple with metas that contradicted their rules, as well as an increase in harassment.
Twitch’s response to problems as they arose in 2021 was largely reactive. In the face of bots and hate raids, as well as other gray areas like gambling and TV/Movie reaction metas, the platform has been chastised for its inaction or silence.
Hession wants to incorporate more tools to control broadcasts and have more open communication with its streamers as the lead on Twitch safety.