Twitch Cracks Down On Preventing The Spread Of 'Harmful Misinformation'
The new policy update from Twitch will aim to eradicate Harmful Misinformation Actors from spreading falsities on the platform.
04th Mar 2022 15:26
Image Credit: Twitch
Twitch has announced that it will be hammering down hard on users who are found spreading "harmful misinformation" on the platform.
As the world's leading streaming platform, there's no denying that Amazon-owned Twitch has a huge responsibility not only to entertain its users, but to keep them safe. However, there have been occasions when the platform has come under fire from viewers and content creators alike for failing to act effectively on inappropriate users. As a result, Twitch has sought out to solve these issues by making several changes to its policies, ultimately to keep everyone safe and happy.
The platform has now revealed that its most recent policy change will make it harder for misinformation to spread on the website. While the move has been welcomed by many, others are left many to wonder what this could this mean for their favourite content creators.
What Are Twitch's Newest Policy Changes?
In a blog posted on its website on March 3, Twitch announced that it was updating its "Spam, Scams and Malicious Conduct Policy" in order "to prohibit Harmful Misinformation Actors from using our service." Twitch explained that the move comes as a response to eradicate 'Harmful Misinformation Actors' from using platform and spreading falsities which could cause "significant harm" to others.
In the statement, Twitch explained: "We've learned that Harmful Misinformation Actors account for a disproportionate amount of damaging, widely debunked misinformation online. Together, we've identified three characteristics that all of these actors share: their online presence – whether on or off Twitch – is dedicated to (1) persistently sharing (2) widely disproven and broadly shared (3) harmful misinformation topics, such as conspiracies that promote violence."
However, for any users wondering what this could mean for them, Twitch stressed: "This update will likely not impact you or the streamers you love on Twitch." The platform explained that it will "only enforce against actors who meet all three of these criteria." However, it wouldn't act on "one-off statements" which contain false information.
What Other Policies Has Twitch Recently Updated?
Twitch has made a number of changes in recent times to help it grow as a safe and inclusive space for all. For example, in February 2022, Twitch announced that it was tightening its grip on "inappropriate" usernames. Similarly to the newest policy update, the move was a response to eradicate "hateful conduct" on the site. However, Twitch has also come under fire from viewers after it banned the use of the word 'simp' and introduced a controversial refund policy change.
With so many dramatic and complex events happening in the world today, it's vital that viewers are not influenced by false and misleading information. In which case, many will likely see Twitch's newest policy as a step in the right direction.
About The Author
Emma Hill
Emma Hill is a former Junior Journalist at GGRecon.
