Posted in: Games, Twitch, Video Games | Tagged: Twitch

Twitch Has Updated Attire Policy Prohibiting Implied Nudity

After having several complaints about streamers broadcasting with implied nudity, Twitch has decided to come down on it with new rules.

After having more than one stream in the past month come pretty close to violating Twitch's Terms of Service, the company has made updates to curb the behavior. The catalyst for all this came about a few weeks ago when streamer Morgpie started running content that implied that she was nude. While she was not the first to do this, she essentially became the biggest example of a trend that's been happening on the platform for a long time and fell into a grey area of the ToS where many used implied sexual content without actually violating any rules to attract viewers. After a number of risque streams, Twitch eventually banned Morgpie two weeks ago and has now released a new set of rules, which they posted about today. Here are some of the highlights from that post.

While most streamers have labeled this content appropriately with the Sexual Themes label and are wearing clothing behind the object or outside the camera frame, for many users, the thumbnails of this content can be disruptive to their experience on Twitch. While content labeled with the Sexual Themes label isn't displayed on the home page, this content is displayed within the category browse directories, and we recognize that many users frequent these pages to find content on Twitch. This update goes into effect today.

For those areas of the body where coverage is required, the coverage must be fully opaque; sheer or partially see-through clothing does not constitute coverage. Note also, that streamers must appropriately categorize their content. For example, streamers that use the attire exception that is granted when streaming near a pool or a hot tub, are expected to use the "Pools, Hot Tubs, and Beaches" category when classifying this content. While at times, we simply reclassify the stream into the appropriate category, repeated failure to appropriately classify a stream will lead to an enforcement action. 

We don't permit streamers to be fully or partially nude, including exposing genitals or buttocks. Nor do we permit streamers to imply or suggest that they are fully or partially nude, including, but not limited to, covering breasts or genitals with objects or censor bars. We do not permit the visible outline of genitals, even when covered. Broadcasting nude or partially nude minors is always prohibited, regardless of context. For those who present as women, we ask that you cover your nipples and do not expose underbust. Cleavage is unrestricted as long as these coverage requirements are met and it is clear that the streamer is wearing clothing. For all streamers, you must cover the area extending from your hips to the bottom of your pelvis and buttocks. 

While Twitch has managed to cover a lot of territory with this new ruleset, streamers have proven to be innovative and found ways around the rules before. While this may force many who have been using the platform this way to change their format, it's only a matter of time before someone comes up with a way to challenge it. Or, if they're fed up with Twitch, they may just pick up and head to Kick, who has proven on more than one occasion they are more lax in their rules and are willing to let people do almost anything they feel like within their own guidelines.

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