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Twitch is easing its rules on nudity and sexual content

undefined undefined 14 décembre 2023 undefined 18h02

undefined undefined 3 janvier 2024 undefined 13h11

The Editor

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The streaming platform is revising its rules! After numerous complaints, Twitch is making a surprising 180-degree turn. Its policy on nudity and dress code now allows pole dancing, strip-teasing, drawings, animations, and sculptures representing genitals and nude bodies. 

Since its creation in 2011, Twitch has been particularly strict about sexual content, being criticized internationally for its extreme censorship of nudity. Until very recently, streamers could be penalized for saying a swear word or showing a bit of skin.

From now on, puritanism abolished. In a blog post published on December 13, the platform announced that it would offer more flexibility to its users when it comes to these questions. The company now wants to allow for "variable geometry moderation". But in concrete terms, what does that change?


Expansion of the "suggestive content" category

The wind blows, the wheel turns. Specifically, drawings, animations, and sculptures representing genitals or nude bodies will be allowed on Twitch, as long as they have been labeled as "suggestive content". This category has already existed since 2021, when the trend of bikini streams, jacuzzi streams, suggestive ASMR, or more recently, live performances involving body painting and nudity gained popularity. The goal is to allow creators to express themselves more freely while ensuring appropriate guidelines are followed.

a meta « topless ». The same rules will apply to streameur·euse·s highlighting " breasts, buttocks or pelvic region ", as well as those practicing strip-tease and effeuillage. Dances such as pole dance and twerk, however, will not be affected by this restriction. They can be broadcasted on Twitch without any specific restriction. 

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However, don't panic, Twitch will not turn into an OnlyFans or PornHub. Showing real or simulated sexual acts on screen will remain strictly prohibited, and anyone who does so will be penalized by the company. The same goes for sexually explicit representations involving sex scenes (hentai, pornographic drawings, video games restricted to 18+).


Bridging the gender gap 

In its blog post, Twitch acknowledges that its previous policy was "too punitive and did not reflect the impact of the content." The company also aims to address gender inequalities, as women were the main victims of the platform's opaque moderation. Twitch has assured that the measures will be applied equally across genders.