By Courtesy of Twitch
Could this be the start of a new trend? After Roblox, it's Twitch's turn to review stream categorization, adding new Content Classification Labels to flag streams aimed at more mature audiences.
Could this be the start of a new trend? After Roblox, it's Twitch's turn to review stream categorization, adding new Content Classification Labels to flag streams aimed at more mature audiences.
Moderating the content available on social networks and other online platforms is a real issue, not only for creators and users, but also for the platforms themselves and brands, who don't want to be seen as promoting or being associated with content that is inappropriate for a young audience. With this in mind, Roblox recently decided to add a category reserved for users aged 17 and over on the platform. And now Twitch has unveiled new categories designed to better classify mature content. "Twitch is all about building and being part of communities created around what you’re into. To do that, it’s important that content is clearly labeled so you can make informed choices about what you watch. To make both of these things easier for streamers and viewers, we’re introducing Content Classification Labels," the platform said in a blog post. On Twitch, these labels will allow users to find the right channels, while protecting under-age users from inappropriate content, and enabling advertisers to better target the desired audience. To access these streams, users will simply have to give their consent, and will not be automatically blocked according to their age.
From games to streamer behavior
From now on, instead of applying the general "mature content" label, streamers will have to classify their stream according to the following themes: mature-rated games; sexual themes; drugs, alcohol or excessive tobacco consumption; violent and shocking representations; significant coarseness or vulgarity; and gambling.
This new moderation system applies both to the nature of the games being streamed and to the streamer's behavior. In fact, a streamer who makes excessive use of vulgar language when live will need to add the "significant coarseness or vulgarity" label even if the game in progress is not rated as a mature game. Note that Twitch will automatically add the "mature-rated games" label if a streamer is playing a video game rated "M" ("Mature") by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). If their vulgarity or even the consumption of alcohol and tobacco is occasional, the streamer will not be obliged to add the relevant label.
To choose the correct classification for a stream, the creator simply needs to select the relevant content label in the "Edit Stream Info" section of the Stream Manager during the launch procedure. Note that labels can be modified even while the stream is in progress, which means that the creator can change the labels in keeping with the content of the stream. "When a stream ends, any labels still applied will automatically carry over to the next stream unless manually removed," says Twitch.
What are the risks?
So what happens if a streamer doesn't add the right content label? Against all expectations, Twitch will not suspend the channel concerned. Streamers will only receive an email warning if the appropriate labels are not added to the stream. Still, "repeated failure to label content correctly may result in Twitch applying a label to your stream on your behalf that will be locked for a period of days or weeks, depending on the number of prior warnings." Streamers will be able to check the time remaining for a locked label by going to the "Content Classification" field in the Stream Manager.
This new classification system could have an effect on streamers' advertising revenues, as Twitch points out: "It is also possible that certain brands won’t want to run their ads alongside streams with specific types of Content Classification Labels applied."
However, the stream's visibility will in no way be affected by the use of a label. In other words, content won't suffer from a "shadow ban" by not showing up on the platform.
