Twitch’s New Chat Settings to Combat Sexual Harassment

Twitch has recently announced an update to AutoMod in chat that enables streamers to address and prevent sexual harassment in their channel.

Over the years, the platform owned by Amazon has consistently incorporated new features, with a particular focus on enhancing the streaming experience for users.

The streamer can set filters for the level of offensive comments that AutoMod, one of the platform’s features, will remove from Twitch chat.

Since its launch, the site has had filters in place to detect and prevent aggressive and bullying comments. However, Twitch recently announced the introduction of additional filters specifically targeting sexual harassment on July 23.

The announcement stated that AutoMod will filter out any unwanted comments regarding a person’s appearance, sexual advances or requests, and objectification. Streamers will have the option to select different levels of the filter, which will determine the strictness of AutoMod in removing comments.

Sexual harassment is never acceptable. To help combat sexual harassment on Twitch, we’re adding a new sexual harassment category to AutoMod, and we’ve added additional examples of behaviors we prohibit under our Sexual Harassment Policy.Learn more:🔗 https://t.co/Dr1Ml0dKi4 pic.twitter.com/o8gTUFFNbV

— Twitch Support (@TwitchSupport) July 23, 2024

According to a blog post, sexual harassment is never acceptable and can have a negative impact on our community. It can make individuals feel unsafe and disrespected, ultimately discouraging them and others from participating on Twitch.

Our goal is to ensure that our service remains the top and most secure platform for streaming. This entails establishing distinct limitations on what actions are acceptable and which ones are not.

The platform owned by Amazon has made changes to its Sexual Harassment policy to improve user comprehension, while emphasizing that the policy remains unchanged.

The definition of sexual harassment includes any non-physical actions of a sexual nature that make individuals feel uncomfortable, diminished, at risk, or discouraged from engaging in activities, as stated.

“Our policy strictly prohibits any unwanted comments, including those made with emojis or emotes, about a person’s appearance or body. This includes sexual requests or advances, objectification, and negative statements or attacks based on a person’s perceived sexual behaviors or activities, regardless of their gender.”

“We have a zero-tolerance policy for the recording or sharing of non-consensual intimate images or videos, and will take necessary action, including reporting to law enforcement, to address any instances of such content.”