Raise the minimum streaming age to 18
Twitch recently changed their content policy to allow more leniency around sexual content. Given the rampant child exploitation issues that have plagued Twitch for years, combined with the fact that Twitch allows children as young as 13 years old to stream on the platform, there is a serious concern that these changes could give child predators additional opportunities for harm.
Particularly concerning is that Twitch has not clarified in its content policy that the new sexual guidelines (or the old ones, for that matter), apply only to adult users of the platform. For example, Twitch indicates that sexual themes such as "twerking, grinding, and pole dancing", content that deliberately highlights sexual body parts, body art, erotic dances, etc. are allowed. However, the policy DOES NOT state that this conduct is allowed for 18+ users only. How does Twitch plan to prevent underage users from participating in this conduct? Are there any measures in place to restrict streamers under the age of 18 from labeling their streams as 18+ and applying content labels?
Twitch is a platform that not only boasts a substantial under 18 viewerbase but also allows children to livestream on the platform, the latter of which enabled child predators to target nearly 300,000 underage Twitch streamers in a 2 year span, as revealed in a Bloomberg expose on September 21, 2022.
Given the substantial harm posed to children on live streaming platforms, I would like to petition Twitch to increase the minimum streaming age to 18 years old. This would essentially eradicate child predator activity on the platform and free up resources for Twitch Safety to focus on other dangers.
Thank you.
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Romire commented
Should of already been done!
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OfficialEvelynClaire commented
Long overdue tbh.
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RedOwlOFF commented
Easy win for Twitch, underage streamers shouldn't be subjected to the kind of things all streamers are subjected to, let alone the predation that has been uncovered.
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DeadmanNumberTwo commented
With the changes to the TOS this is more important than ever.
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deFrisselle commented
It should be 18 to get an account Twitch seems unable to or can afford to hire many more company moderators to handle TOS violations
Would be much better to age verify all users
Seems odd that minors would be allowed to body paint, pole dance, or just hand in a hot tub on Twitch I could also see issue with minors in chat being enticed to get a streamer to do some suggestive redeems or adult themed video
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RobIsla commented
Raised the age to 20, Underage users shouldn't be on here. Come on Twitch get your priorities straight and no excuse banned those underage users. If this platform is 18 and up then should be. Get rid of those users
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Holocron_Library_Fox commented
Agreed.
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sinrock77 commented
This app needs to be 18 MINIMUM
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1feralMurseNRE commented
Twitch is not for children. Period.
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nonstop_nick88 commented
Change comes in different forms. It is time to do better!