Protect streamers by preventing any access to channel for banned users
This is not to take away from the improvements that have already been made, and are being implemented. The work that is being done is greatly appreciated.
However, further change is needed to better protect streamers for banned users. Merely preventing chatting is not enough to deter harassment, stalking, or intrusive bot behavior.
Most people are aware that measures often can be circumvented, that is not an excuse for the lack of protection that currently exists.
Streamers need a way to completely cut off a user from content. I believe the proposed measures are reasonable, and will also provide protection against abuse as well as preventing intrusive bots from squatting in channels without permission.
The proposed changes are:
1. A banned user is prevented from connecting to a channel's chat completely, which means their name does not appear in the list of viewers.
2. A banned user is prevented from viewing the stream itself, on site or using other means.
3. A banned user is blocked from subscribing and following, and will be automatically unsubscribed and / or unfollowed.
4. A banned user is prevented from viewing any other channel information and content, including the streamer's panels, VODs, clips, followers, and followed accounts.
5. A streamer must be able to toggle an option to treat logged out viewers similarly as a banned user, preventing any access until they log in.
Additionally, to prevent excessive account creation, the following measures should be implemented as well:
6. Accounts need to be verified by e-mail.
7. Limit the amount of accounts per e-mail, to 1 or at a maximum 2.
8. Limit the amount of accounts that can be created from a single IP address per day.
Thank you for your consideration.

Hello,
If you have tuned into Patch Notes today, you may already be aware (but in case you missed it) we're looking to implement more changes suggested here soon. We will follow up with an update & more details. Stay tuned.
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StormtrooperDan11 commented
When a user has been banned from a channel they should also not be able to view the channel either. Not sure why it is only the chat and not the video as a ban is a ban? I know impossible to totally stop them viewing as if autohosted or another account could still view it. At least make it a little harder for them, if someone is banned it might be that streamer is uncomfortbale with someone watching them. So this way is less likely they would be.
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Grid21 commented
Ok, since I don't understand how to reply to comments from anyone, I'll do it this way. THANK YOU for putting this feature into reality. I'm glad to know those who bullied me, won't be able to harass me. But the only issue I'd like to address is, what is to keep those who are banned from making other accounts to see the stream, or logging out to see it, or even using incognito mode on browsers to get around the ban or viewing? Did you make plans to deal with this too?
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Australis Fishing commented
Best way to protect streamers is to remove more than one account per email address
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DeadAgainDecky commented
Also we would love to see twitch address streamers who suddenly rise from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand in a few months
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Gelaarsdecat commented
Hello Ana,
Great news that this is now "planned", but what does this mean? the original idea is from 2018 (5 years), will the switch from "planned" to "implemented" also take 5 years or can we expect it sooner?
Saying tuned and Thanks,
Laars -
bnshiy commented
Why do banned users still see my channel and thumbnail in the browse/category view? Why can't Twitch at least hide my channel from the channel list in category view? Sure, banned users have to be lucky to find me in the list, but still, why can't Twitch filter the list?
Am I wrong here? This should be addressed by Twitch.
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penumbrapremier commented
Some viewers that are banned per either Twitch TOS or a community rule break by a streamer or their mods can still view the stream and make clips.
A banned user can still use this to harass said streamer or community members, if you are banned, the page shouldn't be able to be seen by you, or at least the stream should be unable to be viewed.
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strongmissy commented
hi i agree with the ban and not able to still view the streamer thay have said things rong to get banned this will help the wonderful ladys that stream a lot as i see a lot that happenes in there chat pluse its not just kids its big kids that thay think there funny the adults as a 58 i have seen many changes in my life but bulling has stayed and it will be good to ban and thay stay bannd from a streamers chat room thank you
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australistv commented
Look nothing has been done for a long time and streamers still aren't being supported.
I know of other platforms where streamers have been harassed and the platform has taken action on behalf of the streamer which is how it should be.
Whether someone has issues for whatever reason they are it should not be an excuse to harass stramers who are supporting the platform by turning the camera on and engaging with their audience.
It's a dynamic environment in live streaming at the moment and there are far more options than ever before so a bit of care towards live streamers who support the platform would go a long way.
Trolls and people that target streamers severely reduce the capacity for streamers to earn for the platform and themselves and it is a serious issue across all categories on the platform
Time to step up. -
Aegis_of_Avalon commented
I agree with this, at least to my loose understanding of it.
A banned users shouldn't ever be allowed to access any form of content from the channel of which they are banned from, nor should a ban ever really be lifted.
The main problem with the current toxicity and maliciousness of the community is that exceptions are being created around proper behavioral standards. For this reason alone trolling has become an acceptable experience, but is roughly the same thing as online bullying.
The current system states to report and then block. Though blocking is seen as the main issue in perspective, as it stops the individual from being able to send messages.
Taking it a step farther, for example, the option that adjust settings to where one can disable the ability to receive messages, has also made this problem escalate.
Report, report, report. Never block. Ban from the experience sure, but let the distasteful messages keep flowing, so support can see to what extent the situation has gotten too, and just keep reporting the issue.
The problem is that this has been swept under the rug for far too long, that it has gotten out of hand, and is becoming a next to incontrollable experience.
Keep one's opinion to one's individual stream, and carry oneself with a respectable demeaner in someone else's.
A ban appeal shouldn't ever be looked forward too, fool me one's shame on you, fool me twice... well?
Though I don't believe in a lost cause, I suggest on asking support to be the mediator when requesting an unban.
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DarlanEdgar commented
Banned can no longer view the live. I'm experiencing an issue where I need to deprive my live to subscribers just to avoid screeners. it would be interesting if the person who is banned is no longer able to see the live but watch ads normally or infinitely.
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chris3487 commented
Bullying Happened to me on Twitch Over Year Ago In November and March and I want it to Stop
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OdneKKendo66 commented
how about some kind of follower option to be allowed to watch the stream that can be turned on or off by the streamer, this allows the streamer to limit viewers for a period of time, putting off the stream snipers..
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castigadoresp commented
SI SE BETA O BLOQUEA A UN USUARIO O CANAL NO DEVERIA PODER VER NI TUS DIRECTOS NI POR TWITCH NI OTROS BUSCADORES...NI PODER TENER ACCESO A INFORMACION PERSONAL Y MENOS COMPARTIRLA
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castigadoresp commented
USUARIOS BETADOS NO DEBERIAN VER EL DIRECTO POR NINGUN BUSCADOR EXTERNO NI POR TWITCH NI PODER ACCEDER A NINGUNA INFORMACION DEL CANAL BETADO
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Squeemeister commented
You currently appear to have no recourse for streamers who are being stream sniped. (None. Not even a clear, easy to find reporting method for this behavior.) Banning someone from my chat sure doesn't help, does it? (They can still watch.) So where's the other option? Where's the Channel Ban?
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fmzemerica commented
I know your heart is in the right place but the idea will never work. VPN are so common now anyone can make a new channel and watch you in a matter of seconds so it won't solve sniping, stalking issues, or harassment.
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manoeln_ commented
Hi twitch,
Quite a simple question, but one that many are wondering.
When will banning the user from the stream really be worth it? Chat-only "ban" does not interfere with the spread of hate speech caused by an attacker/malicious users.
It is worth noting that just blocking the user from the chat can be done with tools that already exist, timeout. We want broadcasts to be safer for everyone. And the user's total blocking of the transmission, clips, voids and even the channel in general, is the most viable and safest option. To end the gratuitous hate that many creators receive, just for doing their job. We are waiting a few years for this implementation in the banning tool. -
UnicornLifeArt commented
I agree! Anyone who is banned should not be allowed to continue watch the streams, vods or clips.
Also should be banned any other new account connecting from that IP -
KannaKamui70 commented
There's a few channels that i watch that have the issue of being stream sniped and it ruins the gameplay and stream content of the streamer. One of the streamers that i know are pretty much getting stream sniped every single time they stream, and there's no way to block the snipers. even when they defeat the stream ****** in the game, they just respawn, look at the stream for what location to go to, and finds the streamer all over again to annoy them for the full 3-5 hours of streaming. it makes some streamers not wanna stream games because of sniping, and some viewers might not want to stay and watch the stream, because all they see is the streamer being harassed in a game the whole time. Please implement the ability to ban people from watching streamer content completely.