Twitch brings a new depreciating strike program for its users

Twitch is set to overhaul its community guidelines enforcement strategy, introducing a more flexible and educational approach to address user violations. In a recent announcement, the platform revealed changes aimed at promoting safety while allowing users to learn from their mistakes.

Rob Lewington, Twitch’s VP of Safety Operations, and Kristen Murdock, Director of Safety Risk and Response, shared insights into the new program during an interview with The Verge. With over 105 million monthly users and 1.3 trillion minutes of content viewed, Twitch faces unique challenges in moderating its vast and diverse community.

Historically, Twitch’s enforcement system imposed strict penalties for rule violations, accumulating strikes that could lead to indefinite account suspensions. “We’ve had people on Twitch for a long time that have had enforcements in the past, but they don’t expire over time,” Lewington explained. This approach, he noted, was particularly punitive for long-standing users, prompting the need for reform.

Under the new strategy, strikes for “low severity” offenses will expire after a designated period, though Twitch has not yet detailed which violations fall into this category or the exact timelines for expiration. Accidental nudity was mentioned as one example of a low severity offense. In contrast, strikes for high-severity violations, including those related to child safety, terrorism, and hate speech, will remain permanent.

The revamped enforcement strategy will also enhance communication with users. Starting next year, Twitch will provide more context for violations by sharing relevant chat messages or clips that illustrate the reasoning behind enforcement actions. Lewington emphasized that this transparency will help users better understand their mistakes and facilitate the appeals process.

In addition to providing context, Twitch plans to introduce educational courses for users who receive strikes. Murdock highlighted that these courses, developed in collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League and other experts, cover important topics such as hate speech, sexual content, and gambling. Users who complete these courses can potentially reduce the severity of their penalties.

This comprehensive strategy reflects Twitch’s commitment to fostering a safe and supportive community while allowing users to learn and grow from their experiences. By balancing accountability with education, Twitch aims to create a more understanding environment for its users, paving the way for a more positive streaming experience.