[230930]Why Twitch Dialing Back Permabans Would Not Be a Good Move

https://gamerant.com/twitch-permaban-guidelines-bad/
Repealing permanent bans on Twitch carries the risk of sending dangerous messages to creators about what they can get away with on the platform.


Twitch is perhaps the most important platform in video game live-streaming, and the service has set many precedents adopted by other streaming platforms. Streamers have found success on YouTube and Kick, and the Twitch brand is still synonymous with both game streaming and a thriving IRL category that often tops site viewership. While the site has led to the formation of some great communities and has been a bastion for wholesome content, Twitch also has a dark side. Some Twitch streamers have courted controversy, which has led the site to suspend and ban people in the past. Recently, however, the CEO of Twitch discussed the possibility of giving some banned streamers a second chance.

Twitch launched into public beta in June 2011 as a gaming-centered spinoff of Justin.tv. The site immediately saw a boom in viewership, surpassing its predecessor and forcing other content platforms to try and compete in the gaming space. In 2014, Twitch became a subsidiary of Amazon in what was almost a billion-dollar deal. Over that time, the site has remained the go-to destination for both casual gaming and esports streaming alike. As the platform has grown, the moderation standards of the site have grown stricter to ensure that it remains a welcoming place.

Twitch Bans Are Most Often Deserved

greekgodx stream ban
The ban of a Twitch streamer is a great loss for that creator's community, though the vast majority of permabans are deserved. Prominent bans in recent years have included the likes of Destiny, Adin Ross, and MethodJosh. Destiny's ban was for inflammatory comments about transgender women, Ross was banned for neglecting to moderate his chat, which was filled with racism and antisemitism, and MethodJosh's ban was the result of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.

These streamers had substantial viewerships on the platform, but their presence made Twitch a less welcoming place to LGTBQ+ people, racial minorities, certain religious groups, and women. Therefore, many have spoken out to say that these bans were justified and protected the Twitch community as a whole. In a recent interview, the CEO of Twitch talked about reversing permabans on a case-by-case basis.

Because some elements of the site's rules have proven controversial, such as guidelines around attire and some unfair Twitch bans have occurred, repealing permabans could be hazardous. Indeed, many streamers have been banned in ways deemed unfair, such as Quqco, who was temporarily suspended for what the platform perceived as inappropriate exposure during a cosplay stream. Most permanent bans happen because of toxic behavior or clear terms of service violations, and loosening up on streamers who have been banned could welcome toxic behavior from both the streamer and their audience back onto Twitch.

Unbanning Streamers Sends A Bad Message

Dan Clancy Twitch CEO
Many of 2022's biggest Twitch bans occurred because of blatant racism, homophobia, harassment, and other hateful conduct. Reintroducing figures like JiDion or Greekgodx back to the site sends the message that their actions can be tolerated and brings back audiences that potentially celebrate that behavior.

On top of potentially making the site more toxic, it sends Twitch users from vulnerable communities the message that hatred directed towards them is forgivable in the eyes of the platform, especially if the banned creator hasn't demonstrated accountability and improved their conduct. Ensuring all kinds of people feel welcome on the site is far more important than bringing back a banned creator.

If Twitch begins to repeal permanent bans on streamers, it could alienate certain communities that currently feel safe on the site. The CEO has recently expressed the desire for a path to redemption for banned creators, but the site has temporary bans and suspensions already for this purpose. If permanent bans aren't permanent anymore, they empower users to push boundaries. Allowing big creators back also sends the message that these actions are forgivable if the creator can make enough money for the site, a move that would showcase blatant greed. A better use of time and resources would be to empower wholesome Twitch creators and communities.

机翻：
废除对 Twitch 的永久禁令可能会向创作者发送危险信息，告知他们可以在平台上做些什么。


Twitch 或许是视频游戏直播中最重要的平台，该服务开创了其他直播平台采用的许多先例。 流媒体在 YouTube 和 Kick 上取得了成功，Twitch 品牌仍然是游戏流媒体和蓬勃发展的现实生活类别的代名词，该类别经常占据网站收视率榜首。 虽然该网站促成了一些优秀社区的形成，并成为健康内容的堡垒，但 Twitch 也有其阴暗面。 一些 Twitch 主播曾引起争议，导致该网站过去曾暂停或禁止用户。 然而，最近 Twitch 首席执行官讨论了给一些被禁主播第二次机会的可能性。

Twitch 于 2011 年 6 月作为 Justin.tv 的以游戏为中心的衍生产品推出公开测试版。 该网站的观看人数立即激增，超过了其前身，并迫使其他内容平台尝试在游戏领域展开竞争。 2014 年，Twitch 成为亚马逊的子公司，交易金额近十亿美元。 在那段时间里，该网站仍然是休闲游戏和电子竞技流媒体的首选目的地。 随着平台的发展，网站的审核标准也变得更加严格，以确保它仍然是一个受欢迎的地方。

Twitch 禁令通常是应得的

GreekGodx 流禁令
尽管绝大多数 Twitch 主播的永久禁令都是应得的，但对 Twitch 主播的禁令对该创作者社区来说是一个巨大损失。 近年来，著名的禁令包括 Destiny、Adin Ross 和 MethodJosh 等。 Destiny 的禁令是因为有关变性女性的煽动性言论，Ross 被禁令是因为疏于调节他的聊天内容，其中充满了种族主义和反犹太主义，而 MethodJosh 的禁令是由于多项不当性行为指控的结果。

这些主播在平台上拥有大量观众，但他们的存在使得 Twitch 不再受到 LGTBQ+ 人群、少数族裔、某些宗教团体和女性的欢迎。 因此，许多人公开表示这些禁令是合理的，并且保护了整个 Twitch 社区。 在最近的一次采访中，Twitch 的首席执行官谈到了根据具体情况扭转永久禁令的问题。

由于该网站规则的某些内容已被证明存在争议，例如有关着装的指南和一些不公平的 Twitch 禁令，因此废除永久禁令可能会很危险。 事实上，许多主播都以不公平的方式被禁止，例如 Quqco，因为平台认为在角色扮演直播期间不当曝光而被暂时停职。 大多数永久封禁的原因是不良行为或违反明确的服务条款，而放松对被封禁的主播的限制可能会欢迎主播及其观众的不良行为重新回到 Twitch。

取消封禁主播会发出不好的信息

丹·克兰西 Twitch 首席执行官
2022 年许多最大的 Twitch 禁令都是由于公然的种族主义、恐同、骚扰和其他仇恨行为而发生的。 将 JiDion 或 Greekgodx 等人物重新引入网站会传达这样的信息：他们的行为是可以容忍的，并重新吸引可能庆祝这种行为的观众。

除了可能使该网站变得更加有毒之外，它还向来自弱势社区的 Twitch 用户传达这样的信息：在该平台看来，针对他们的仇恨是可以原谅的，特别是如果被禁止的创作者没有表现出责任并改善他们的行为。 确保各种人在网站上感到受欢迎远比带回被禁止的创作者重要得多。

如果 Twitch 开始废除对主播的永久禁令，可能会疏远目前在该网站上感到安全的某些社区。 首席执行官最近表示希望为被禁止的创作者找到一条救赎之路，但该网站已经为此目的实施了临时禁令和暂停。 如果永久禁令不再是永久性的，它们将允许用户突破界限。 允许大创作者回归还传达了这样的信息：如果创作者能为网站赚到足够的钱，这些行为是可以原谅的，此举将显示出公然的贪婪。 更好地利用时间和资源应该是为健康的 Twitch 创作者和社区提供支持。