Twitch Addresses VTuber Outrage Over New Clothing Policy: “We Aim to Get This Right”

VTubers expressed their frustration and confusion when Twitch indicated that its clothing guidelines apply to digital streamers as well, specifically stating that their hips must be shielded in accordance with these rules.

This outcry from the Vtubing community emerged on October 7, coinciding with the introduction of Twitch’s new Enforcement Notes feature. This addition serves as “further clarifications and examples” within its Community Guidelines, aiming to preemptively address any new trends that could potentially violate these regulations.

Many VTubers voiced opposition to this policy, asserting that they would need to hire artists for new character models, which can be a costly and time-intensive task for those whose current avatars fail to align with the updated standards of the platform.

Some users even went so far as to accuse Twitch of harboring disdain towards them, with one streamer reacting strongly after receiving a warning for sexual content, simply because her avatar donned a pajama onesie that revealed some cleavage.

In light of this backlash, we reached out to Twitch for clarification on their attire regulations, and they explained that their intent is to make their policies “as straightforward as possible.”

Twitch has now confirmed that VTuber hips MUST be covered. I can think of many VTubers, including myself, who don’t fully cover theirs. The problem is that creating new outfits to comply with constantly changing guidelines is both costly and time-consuming. Be mindful of this clarified rule! pic.twitter.com/A27EoGNfsA

— 🦋 Leahkitties 🦋 (@leahkitties) October 7, 2024

Twitch elaborated that the purpose behind sharing this extra information is to delineate the lines of enforcement clearly, thereby eliminating ambiguity within their community. “We aim to make sure the rules are easy to follow and reduce the chances of misunderstandings,” they noted.

Furthermore, Twitch highlighted that their attire policy is “applied equally to both human streamers and VTubers,” though they did not provide confirmation regarding its application to swimwear or content shown in pool and beach settings.

That said, the platform’s Community Guidelines specify that “swimwear, short shorts, and bodysuits are permitted provided they completely cover the genital area,” suggesting that VTubers could potentially stream with exposed hips in such attire.

Twitch reiterated its recognition of the VTubing community’s significance on its platform and expressed a desire for ongoing dialogue regarding the Enforcement Notes. “We strive to get this right and are grateful for all the feedback. VTubers are a crucial and valued part of the Twitch ecosystem,” they stated.

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