Kick Streamers Criticize Moderation Standards as CEO Questions if They Are “Too Harsh” Compared to Twitch

Kick’s CEO, Eddie Craven, has recently engaged the streaming community in a dialogue about the platform’s moderation policies. This comes as many users express concerns that Kick’s moderation has become “worse than Twitch.”

Kick: An Alternative to Twitch

Kick was initially launched as a competitor to Twitch, allowing more controversial content, including gambling streams, which are typically restricted on other platforms. The site gained notoriety during its early months due to incidents involving well-known streamers, exemplified by Ice Poseidon’s arrest in Thailand and N3on’s involvement in a hit-and-run with infamous racer Squeeze Benz.

Changes in Moderation Policies

In response to growing criticism, Kick has taken significant steps to address unacceptable behavior on the platform. Notable figures, including co-owner xQc, have played a vital role in enforcing stricter standards, resulting in the banning of certain streamers, such as Johnny Somali. The platform has further refined its rules, instituting restrictions on “harmful and exploitative” content and permitting streaming solely from verified gambling sites, a move that has sparked some controversy.

Community Feedback on Moderation

Kick’s current moderation is

— Eddie (@StakeEddie) December 11, 2024

Criticism from Users

The engagement from Kick staff, notably co-founder Trainwreck, who urged community participation in the poll, further amplified its visibility. User feedback varied, with a substantial number expressing that Kick’s current moderation resembles Twitch’s in its severity.

Lowkey worse than twitch

— WAYTODEEPIN (@waytodeepin) December 11, 2024

Some users lamented that moderation practices need to strike a better balance, stating, “We just don’t want Kick to turn into Twitch.”Others suggested that a platform such as Rumble, which prioritizes free speech and recently made headlines by signing popular streamer Dr Disrespect, presents a significant competitive advantage.

Fire @Svntvmvriv. Kick cannot and will not compete with Twitch and Rumble if there isn’t free speech. Twitch has the creators and Rumble has free speech, Kick currently has neither which is exactly why it won’t survive. If this isn’t fixed I don’t see Kick surviving much longer.

— Sean❕ (@SEANJQ1Q) December 11, 2024

Conclusion and Looking Ahead

The poll results could significantly influence Kick’s future moderation strategies. Given the substantial involvement of staff in promoting the poll, it is possible that we may see adjustments to the moderation framework as early as 2025. Observers will be keenly watching how Kick navigates these challenges in maintaining its unique identity while addressing user concerns.

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