Twitch’s Updated Nudity Policy: Illustrated Nipples Permitted, Human Underboob Restricted thinkitnow.in

We’ve gotten feedback that our policies around sexual content are unclear so we’ve drawn clearer boundaries between what is & isn’t permitted on Twitch.

We also recognize that not everyone wants to see certain content, so we’re updating our criteria for homepage recommendations. pic.twitter.com/rvZ4kFADR6

— Twitch (@Twitch) December 13, 2023

This update comes in the wake of a controversy known as the “topless meta,” where streamer and OnlyFans model Morgpie faced backlash for seemingly appearing naked in streams that adhered to Twitch’s previous guidelines. The new policy aims to address these issues by offering more detailed guidelines, although some aspects may still appear contradictory.

For instance, the updated policy allows “fictionalized” representations of fully-exposed breasts and other body parts in drawings, animations, or sculptures. However, augmented reality avatars, such as those used by VTubers, must follow the same attire requirements as regular streamers. Female-presenting human nipples must be covered, but cleavage is considered “unrestricted.” The policy is intricate, covering various scenarios, but questions remain about certain aspects like sideboob.

Twitch clarified that it has been working on overhauling content moderation for the past year, aiming to make its community guidelines clearer based on feedback from streamers. The platform emphasized the importance of informing users about content guidelines rather than relying solely on punitive measures.

The update consolidates Twitch’s approach to sexual content and seeks to modernize previous policies that were criticized for disproportionately penalizing female streamers. The platform previously enforced separate policies for “sexually suggestive” and “sexually explicit” content, leading to confusion. The new policy combines these into a single “Sexual Content Policy,” while also providing details in the Content Classification Guidelines (CCLs) on when streamers should label their content for “Sexual Themes.”

One notable change is that streams tagged with certain content, such as drugs, violence, gambling, or sexual themes, will not be promoted on Twitch’s homepage recommendations. This aims to prevent viewers from encountering content they haven’t explicitly consented to seeing, although viewers can still navigate directly to such channels.

The update also addresses the controversy around artistic depictions, allowing content that was previously prohibited, like artistic depictions of breasts, buttocks, and genitals, as long as it’s properly labeled. “Erotic dances,” including strip teases, twerking, grinding, and pole dancing, are also allowed, provided they are labeled. However, streaming from adult entertainment establishments remains prohibited.

Twitch’s efforts to address these issues and provide clearer guidelines are seen as a response to longstanding community complaints about the disproportionate moderation faced by female streamers. The platform faced criticism for previous dress code policies, which were perceived as targeting women unfairly. This update is intended to strike a balance between allowing more freedom for creators and preventing explicit content from reaching unintended audiences.

The reactions to Twitch’s update have been mixed. Some streamers, like Morgpie, have praised the platform for providing more freedom while preventing explicit content from reaching the wrong audience. However, there are ongoing discussions about the potential impact on ad revenue for streamers who label their content accordingly.

Overall, Twitch’s attempt to modernize its sexual content policy reflects the evolving landscape of online streaming platforms and the challenges they face in balancing freedom of expression with responsible content moderation.