Twitch has changed its policy regarding explicit content by allowing certain types of nudity. The Amazon-owned streaming platform will now permit certain formerly prohibited content as long as it is published under the correct label. Meanwhile, the age limit of the app remains thirteen (13) which has become a concern for many parents. Learn more about the policy changes below.
What’s Twitch Artistic Nudity in policy update?
Under the new regulations, nudity in the forms of art such as animation, drawing, and sculpture is no longer prohibited on the app. The content creators can now showcase their art featuring exposed human bodies including breasts, genitals, and buttocks. The only necessary regulation will be the correct labeling of the content under Sexual Themes.
woah twitch allows artistic nudity now!!
we can finally stream gesture drawing without fear of getting banned due to female presenting brushstrokes pic.twitter.com/YpXlUaooMn
— Freya Holmér (@FreyaHolmer) December 13, 2023
However, the Twitch policy change doesn’t allow fictionalized se*ual acts, and ma*turbation. So, the artistic nudity policy doesn’t allow fictionalized, animated, or cartoon porn. The policy also prohibits streamers from being partially or completely naked. However, it allows content that deliberately highlights the human body including body writing and painting under the Sexual Themes label.
Additionally, the dance steps such as twerking, grinding, and pole dancing are permitted without any labels necessary. They are also going to allow games whose core focus isn’t on nudity but contains certain mature themes under the label of Mature-Rated Games Content Classification.
Is the platform still safe for children?
Despite the changes, the user age limit of Twitch remains 13, which is considered minor in most countries. Angela Hession, Twitch’s chief customer trust officer explained that they decided to alter their nudity and mature content policy after receiving feedback stating that their policies are confusing.
Twitch Updated their Sexual Content Policy:
– Changes: Certain content now allowed with labels
– Artistic Nudity: Permitted under Sexual Themes Label
– Game Nudity: Contextual; labels necessary
– Body Painting: Acceptable with appropriate label
– Mature Games: Label generally… pic.twitter.com/eTtCKVCHN5— Dexerto (@Dexerto) December 13, 2023
She also admitted that some of the content that is going to be allowed may not be suitable for all audiences. That’s where the correct labeling comes into play. All the explicit content must be labeled appropriately. When it is applied the content will not appear on the homepage and will require the audience to provide explicit consent before they can join the stream.
The app is also going to exclude content featuring Drugs, Intoxication, Tobacco Use, Violent and Graphic Depictions, Gambling, and Sexual Themes from their homepage trusting that their users will use the correct CLL for the content.
Regulations for mislabeling or not labeling explicit content
Twitch has announced that it will regulate the content following the policy changes. All the streamers that fail to use the correct Content Classification Label will receive a warning and the label will be applied to their stream.
Twitch: we're prohibiting adult content on the main page.
The people: omg a Twitch W?
Also Twitch: nudity is now basically just allowed as long as you tag it.
The people: pic.twitter.com/MvTd1mLin7
— 🪿 theGOOSEchase 🪿 (@wyldegoosechase) December 14, 2023
The app will also lock a label onto the stream if a creator repeatedly fails at applying the correct CLL. However, they are not going to suspend the creators over this matter. This is a major concern for users as it can allow streamers to expose mature content to minor audiences. Therefore, the app will no longer be completely safe for children under the legal age.
