Beauty & Body Art Community Concerns
Since Body Painting has been established as a valid category on the platform, there has been a noticeable lack of encouragement from Twitch in creating a healthy community around it. This lack of support is further emphasized by the massive push back and public harassment of Body Painters online, including but not limited to: Organized hate raids by other streamers, Streamers sexualizing body painters on their own live streams, Public groups that organize mass reports on body painters, Lack of response by Twitch to counter the culture of continued degradation of women through objectification by viewers (including inappropriate usernames).
Twitch has a growing issue on its platform in regards to Body Art, one of its more controversial categories. The streamers of this category are heavily targeted for harassment every day by other streamers and their communities, often leading to malicious mass reports on accounts resulting in account suspensions and bans with little offering as to the specifics of what the offense entails. While the community is grateful for Twitch to include this art on it's platform, the seeming lack of effort to foster a sense of support for the community is disappointing. While it is true that Twitch has offered a recent update to the community guidelines in regards to body painting, they still leave too much up to interpretation. These gray areas leave a number of inconsistencies laid bare on the enforcement of these policies, and leave the streamers feeling a lack of safety in their art. The additional focus, and inequality of these rules being enforced on male presenting streamers as well, also has a play in how the Body Painters are objectified as these guidelines are settled under "****** Content".
Proposed Solution
Twitch has an opportunity to lead by example and help to change the rampant culture of ****** harassment and hateful conduct on the platform by showing support for one of it’s most controversial categories. After much discussion with over 100 body painters about the trials we face on a daily basis, we came to a few proposals that if implemented would create a better sense of belonging, safety, security and health in the category. Many of these proposals also have the ability to improve the ****** harassment faced by all females on the platform if expanded on.
Being as controversial a category as Body Painting is, the community would like to ask for even MORE defined guidelines. There are too many areas that need further definition, such as how long is a short break when painting since the average body paint takes anywhere from 6 to 8 hours to complete? What constitutes performing unrelated activities? How much coverage actually has to be painted before a stream starts (whole ***? Areola/*** and underbust only? Does it need to be detailed or is a single color ok? Do we need to start with the chest as we paint or starting with the face ok?)? As streamers we've seen inconsistency in enforcement of these rules as some streamers are known to show off a pet on stream in a break from painting, some eat while simultaneously painting, and others may take a moment to answer bigger questions on stream. In many of these situations we've seen some people become suspended or banned from the platform when being threatened with reports while live, and others no severe action taken under the same threats. By further defining time limits, expectations of paint coverage to meet, and what is considered a break versus participating in unrelated activities, it leaves little question to the streamer as to what is allowed, and removes some of the discrepancy between how these reports are handled.
To further elaborate on these discrepancies, we would like to propose that a team of two persons be assigned to review reports against body painters. This can be expanded on to include all ****** content reports that happen live, but is important that there be little room for error when handling these cases. In order to set a precedence for conduct and what is expected, there has to be consistency in the actions taken as well as the reasoning behind those actions. Not only are the guidelines easily interpret-able, but the reasons for suspensions and bans are even more vague and lacking context. If the reports made against body painters are handled by specific staff, that further makes it possible for consistency and clearer definition of the offense when resulting in punishment.
I cannot stress enough how the platform as a whole would benefit from clearer reasoning for suspensions and bans. While it is hard to give time stamps for the offense in question due to the VOD being removed from the site, it would not be impossible to supply a screenshot or clip with clearer definition of the actions being performed that were against policy. Not only does being clearer about policy enforcement help the community by setting clear precedent, it honors an overwhelming outcry to Twitch to honor its commitment to transparency.
There is also a great opportunity here to add in a community manager for the creative category with an emphasis on Body Painting. With a community manager, those streaming in Beauty&Body Art would have a designated point of contact when there are questions or concerns about content they wish to produce. Community managers also allow Twitch to have live eyes on the category and better utilize the warning system as things are happening live allowing the streamer to either end their stream or course correct immediately. This line of communication also narrows the ability of more edgy streamers to intentionally misinterpret the guidelines, and would give Twitch staff in Safety and Policy a better view of the issues and harassment going on. This suggestion is one that has been implemented by competitors, including YouTube, who have active community managers that do outreach to streamers and communities while live.
The list of issues facing body painters is long, and the concern over the lack of support received from Twitch as a category is frustrating. We truly believe in Twitch as a platform though, and the powerful change that can be made in the current culture of objectification and ****** harassment, not only by other streamers but the viewers as well, if Twitch were to take a stance in this controversial category. As a community, we sincerely hope that you will hear our voice, our concerns, and take into consideration our many proposals for solutions. We are open to discussion with policy staff and willing to work to help better the platform as a whole.
Hey guys!
There were some discussions that weren’t super applicable to feedback and I have gone ahead and removed them.
We super appreciate the feedback and want to keep hearing your ideas. Please just keep it focused on bodypainting/body art community and feedback around that, over feedback on specific channels/users.
If you have anyone who you are concerned about on Twitch or someone who you are worried about how they are acting on Twitch always feel empowered to report them so our team can further investigate the situation.
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Mokmo418 commented
What an annoying topic, let them stream! And review complaints more thoroughly!
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JDTANK_THEFIREKING commented
Body painters need to be protected on this platform. For alot of then this is their job and their career. If they keep getting banned just because of some stupid rules they broke because they never knew about it is just straight up not not good. Fix it
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lillysanthem commented
Body painting should be safe and protected by twitch just like any other form of art on twitches platform.
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Belmardox commented
I have no issue with body painting. Twitch should protect the wonderful artists that share their talent. It's those "trolls" that need to be dealt with. Consider this my way of signing the petition.
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AshleyCArt commented
There is absolutely no issue with body painting. It's an art form and must be treated as one.
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KILLERBOII420 commented
There is clearly nothing wrong with paint on the body it's art
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spawn1960 commented
These streamers are such an easy target by trolls who may have been blocked for their own conduct in chat. I've seen some pretty disgusting trolls and yet the streamer catches the grief. Consider this as my informing you that I signed the petition.
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deadbob101 commented
Twitch need to protect its body painters and artists much better. Give clear guidelines and help stop the trolls.
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KayPikeFashion commented
If we could have some support for how abusive our workplace is that would be great.
I'm glad to help firm up guidelines. mainly its if the chats not being classy, if people are degrading the streamer and art, automod not max its contextually awful. Chatters think its okay and it gets toxic and spreads places. But yea, context is key.
We have the ability to say a body is not inherently evil or baiting/inviting harassment.
This is a rare fulcrum artfrom: if it is used and implemented wisely. This is super progressive and can shift the status quo of a mind shift between having a body and sexualizing as a streamer/artist.
I am fully aware its a political act to do what I do in a careful classy way. And it is for everyone that attempts to push the antibully movements and womens liberation movements as they are doing this.The streamers that take their output as serious as it is, and hold with reverence what they give into the world with the huge responsibility: do deserve some protection to continue to change minds, and the world.
Even if a community manager is out of the question a better algorithm system. Even historical automod set to max as a filter from the auto-ban from trolling reports. Mod history with word list, if the chat is getting away being toxic its probably a toxic channel. If the channel is littered with gasm emotes and the streamer is not working on the artwork or soft things around the art chatting and community building around it... then yea probably the topless gamer cliche toxic to the overall build of this as a positive artform. However if theres history of classy assume that a stream is good before assuming it is not. Thats the very mindset we are trying to change:
A person is not inherently evil. Having skin showing of any or many colours does not mean you are baiting views. Doing somthing fringe and fantastical does not make you inherently anti-establishment.There is work to do, It starts with the streamer always. Be covered, a professional level, seamless pasties and a tube top level of opaque paint. Same as you would show up at a convention for a client. I always know future clients are watching and go into every stream like I am guesting in a highschool art class. Keep it professional. Never draw attention to the fact you're a body, no sexualizing yourself , posing like this, lingering in areas inappropriately, or in conversation. Automod max or however its a clean show. Keep it contextual and classy. Then Twitch should step in and protect the positivity. Maybe a safelist of historically max professional level creators.
Protect people making positive changes and giving voice to marginalized creators by creating a safe and inclusive environment.
So far this has been the most progressive incredible platform. I Bleed purple. Twitch listens to its creators more then any other place, and has adapted to our want to share this art and say its okay to have a human form and stream. That's humbling and simple and sweet, so stop and breathe that in before getting upset with the platform. Its not Twitch: it's the combination of bad apple toxic streamers and band-wagoning hatred towards fringe (women especially) +the combination of anonymity online. These are old problems, anytime theres change or creativity its often hated, until its shown as a good positive thing. Burn the witch all that. And believe this is less of a 'problem' and more of a 'lower priority' for Twitch.
So lets keep it classy, lift each other up, try to get more and more and more people painting and streaming bodypaint on Twitch and when theres more people needing help.
More and more people doing the soft political #antibully #selflove #mentalhealth #womensrights scream and loving themselves for who they are and showing that "yes you can be okay" in this -raw- venerable stressful artform. Still be loved and supported just as you are: skincells cellulite and all with that beautiful sub communication to communities online of that being down to the flesh venerable is okay. You don't * need* to be ashamed or become inherently hate target because your born in a human body; just pasties, opaque paint and good moderators :) Its such a healthy message and so many people want to say it.
Get more painters and when more people need help: Twitch putting in a 'safe class act streamer' algorithm system might be shuffled on someones desk sooner. -
OJTheViking commented
Consider this petition signed by me as well.
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dawittywombat commented
Hopefully twitch stops banning art
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arcanostic commented
First, Twitch needs to start bending over backwards to make sure they aren't banning female streamers subjectively. There should be clearly defined rules. If a situation occurs where there is doubt caused by vagueness in a guideline, ruling should be in favor of the streamer, always.
Secondly, account suspensions/bans should be consistent for the offense, not subject to the individual Twitch employee's biases, or the individual streamer's popularity/revenue value.
Thirdly, normalize the human body. We all have one. There's nothing evil about skin. Demonization of the human body, male or female, is toxic and harmful. #freethenipple #nudenotlewd -
RynoMight45 commented
Any one is subject to trolling art shouldn't be excluded because of the form it takes if guide lines are respected
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Celtic_Bard commented
In full support of body painters being treated more fairly on the platform! The guidelines/consequences regarding bodily exposure need to be clarified further to aid creators in protecting themselves and following rules. Twitch you invited the first body painter to the network start looking after them.
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Fatpally commented
Make it clear what you are enforcing most if not all of these content creators rely on this for their content. Don’t take their word at less then face value when having to report ******** who are targeting them. BE BETTER TWITCH!
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krizo88 commented
just watch a body paint stream - and you will see that it is a real art - (espescially SleepyLaura) help support them any way you can!
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chubbykraken commented
In full support of body painters being treated more fairly on the platform! The guidelines/consequences regarding bodily exposure need to be clarified further to aid creators in protecting themselves and following rules.
Twitch should also be doing more thorough investigation into ToS claims in general before passing severe judgements on streamers. It's ridiculous that innocent creators get punished because harassment mobs succeed in exploiting the vague ToS in this area just for fun.
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bepopcosplayer commented
Thank you so much for this, I sincerely hope that our body painting community is heard and looked after.
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Zombie_Shredder_Gaming commented
when i go to certain streams i do so for my chance to communicate with the streamers build a bond support those i really do connect with and enjoy their content. i normally dont watch female streamers i avoid a lot of the egirls online etc but i watch mizzy on a constant basis i love the art and she always painting something im interested in seeing. regardless of if its her body or canvas. but i constantly notice she struggles to communicate and shes even scared to eat a quick snack during a 8 hour stream due to getting banned for a "short break" i think its unfair and inhumane especially after they go out of their way to comply with rules to pursue their passion i understand pervs exists and people do try to make money off *** appeal but some people just have an honest hear a love for painting and want to connect with their audience as they do it. they shouldnt have different rules applying to them on how their personality has to be when they are painting vs gaming you could do both in one stream do things the same and still break rules half the time?!?!? DOES THIS MAKE SENSE not to me anyways.. i hope someone values this opinion!
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meausue commented
oink