Remove "sensitive social issues" bullet point.
Twitch should remove the "sensitive social issues" clause from Article VII of its Content Classification Guidelines. LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and reproductive rights are NOT "sensitive social issues", they are common sense issues, where one side simply wants their liberties intact. The controversy is entirely on the other side of the argument the involves taking those liberties away.
Especially as it pertains to LGBTQ+ individuals, the notion that the discussion of their very existence is political is absolute nonsense. These people should be allowed to discuss the issues affecting them without being set behind some kind of "explicit content" label. This is a slippery slope that begins with people automatically labeling non-heteronormative lives and content as "deviant" or "degenerate", especially by grossly bad actors who want to be edgy.
Remove the final bullet point from Article VII.
ADameNamedAmy
shared this idea
Thank you for raising this. We’ve just posted a Tweet addressing these concerns.
You don’t need to label your stream with the new Politics & Sensitive Social Issues CCL if you are sharing your lived experience. Intermittent mentions of politics, politicians, or sensitive social issues also do not require the Politics and Sensitive Social Issues label. We apologize for not communicating this well initially.
If you are an LGBTQ+ streamer, for example, you do not need this label when talking about your lived experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. We’ve added clarifying language to the Content Classification Guidelines to better express this.
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pitatious
commented
Our existence is not debatable nor should it be considered a “controversial topic”.
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Ponut64
commented
Putting this in the same barrel as a stream which discusses MILITARY CONFLICTS or POLITICAL PROTESTS is accelerationist in the wrong way. Sex is an *adult* topic which means some of LGBTQ may be fairly called "adult" but we're not like, domestic terrorists or something....
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lilly_so_silly666
commented
It's stupid that it's even up for debate
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sapphicpixel
commented
This clause is a slap in the face to queer viewers and streamers on this platform, of which there are many and they are wonderful. To have people censored due to their existence being deemed political is ridiculous and I hope Twitch does better in the future to avoid making dumb decisions like this in the future.
Our existence is not political, we are all people and deserve to have our stories heard. We deserve to exist without having to hide who we are.
- A nonbinary sapphic aro-ace
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PupWrex
commented
Being part of the LGBT+ community and talking about that isn't a sensitive topic. Come on
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AmyCJAddams
commented
To reduce someones lived existence to a politcal point continues to other them and create an idea there is a 'normative' existence not under debate that is seperate and further deciding that the statement that others should exist is politicized to a point of isolation and cruelty.
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avalon2040
commented
Its a life not a social issue, the "sensitive social issue" flag should be for things that are not simply about someone EXISTING
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CallMeShuri
commented
LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and reproductive rights are NOT "sensitive social issues", they are common sense issues, where one side simply wants their liberties intact.
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Fey_Yoshida
commented
I am trans. I talk about my struggles as a trans woman. If I am to be treated like someone glorifying war or spewing hate about me being trans, then I will not be using Twitch.
****! I’m even Pansexual and in a polycule! This also would be counted as “Controvercial”!
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lapis_reborn
commented
My existence and the existence of the LGBTQ+ community is and should never be political nor controversial. MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD!
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unr1pebanana
commented
Our existence is not debatable.
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milkywaydrawz
commented
Our existence shouldn't be political in any way, especially when compared to military conflicts and foreign policy! Like, c'mon now Twitch!
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AvianInvasion
commented
Seconded, thirded, and I'll keep counting as long as it takes. This new guideline change is a reprehensible step backward, opening the doors to turn a historically marginalized and bullied class of people into targets for trolls and bad-faith actors. I echo what @ADameNamedAmy said in the original post and will use a megaphone if I have to.
If this change actually goes through, I will be moving my streaming schedule back to YouTube and deactivating my Twitch account, encouraging others to do so as well.
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red_sky_dry
commented
Nobody's existence and experience should be considered something political.
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punchkkin
commented
Twitch will alienate basically 80% of its users with this new policy. Not to mention, it's very vague. Remove the final bullet point from Article VII
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Festiveface
commented
My existence is not political.
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Kanovore
commented
I don't even know how this would be NOT used and abused against marginalized and oppressed peoples addressing issues that Include them
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WarpedBobbie
commented
As a trans person who is queer, with this policy if I mention my wife and then a streamer responds they are acknowledging a queer relationship and technically could get punished. So in addition to silencing streamer this policy also silences audience. It also others the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum as something that can't be talked about in "normal" streams without a tag and is just going to have a chilling effect overall.
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SweetWitchNerd
commented
My existence isn't political, it's not a sensitive topic, I shouldn't be punished for using a tag to create a community of people with similar gender identities or sexualities and talk about about my life experiences, it's absurd to put it in line with discussing war and genocide
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Flippo9204
commented
This change in Twitch's guidelines disproportionately affects marginalized people, including potentially many of my favorite streamers and friends. I really hope they reconsider this chance cause if my friends have to go, I will too.