Twitch has introduced new features to give viewers more control over adult content on its live streaming platform.
On 21 May, Twitch announced an update titled “We’re giving viewers more control over their Twitch experience.” The platform aims to create a welcoming environment and acknowledges that some content may not be suitable for everyone.
The update includes new content filtering and thumbnail blurring options to hide ‘Content Classification Labels’ (CCLs) that mark adult themes/streams.
Last year, Twitch began using CCLs to help viewers make informed choices. The new content filtering option allows users to exclude streams from specific CCL categories.
Viewers can find new filters in the ‘Content Display Preferences’ section of ‘Profile Settings.’
The filter lets viewers hide CCLs categorized as Sexual Themes, Drugs/Intoxication, Gambling, Violent & Graphic Depictions, Significant Profanity, and Mature Rated Games.
Users under 18 will have default filters for all CCL themes except Mature Rated Games. Logged-out viewers will have default filters for Sexual Themes and Gambling.
Guidelines state: “Streams labeled with CCLs you have chosen to filter out will not be recommended to you, and will not show up as you browse categories or search for content. If you follow a streamer, their content will be exempt from these settings and will always be shown, even if labeled with a CCL that you’ve chosen to filter out.”
The option to blur thumbnails is applied to content labelled with Sexual Themes CCL by default. Followed channels are exempt from blurred thumbnails.
The update warns content creators about tougher enforcement of CCLs. Repeated failure to correctly label streams will lead to a permanent label being applied to the channel.
Streamers should read Twitch guidelines to understand how to apply CCLs for adult content. In 2022, Twitch updated its community guidelines to ban streamers from promoting gambling content.
Twitch prohibits streaming gambling sites offering slots, roulette, or dice games unless they are licensed in the US or other jurisdictions with adequate consumer protection.
In August 2023, Twitch implemented an outright ban on all livestreams of gambling content to protect audiences from the predatory marketing of unlicensed gambling websites. The update specifically banned the online casinos of Blaze and Gamdom, targeting audiences directly.
