Twitch streamers will have the power to ban viewers from viewing their live feeds and engaging in their discussion. This soon-to-be-released optional setting intends to give content producers more control over online communities and reduce conflict.
Users may interact with their preferred streams and gaming content on Twitch, a well-known online platform for gamers and content producers. However, as online venues have expanded, unfavorable and disruptive conduct incidents have proliferated and tarnished the experience for both producers and spectators.
Twitch streamer Lowco was one of the first to discover and notify others about the new possibilities on the popular platform, according to a Tech Radar report. The function will be made accessible to all users in September and will take effect right away if activated, according to Lowco, who discussed it on Twitter.
Using this optional feature, Twitch streamers can quickly prevent prohibited people from seeing their live feeds. As a result, people who have been banned will no longer be able to access both the chat and the broadcast. However, this new Twitch blocking feature will not include on-demand videos and snippets. Lowco suggested that Twitch may consider extending this capability to include these features in the future.
HUGE TWITCH UPDATE: When you block or ban someone, they’ll no longer be able to view your stream! pic.twitter.com/hS1LOLrbqF
— Lowco 🔜 TwitchCon (@LowcoTV) August 16, 2023
Giving Streamers More Control
Twitch's Senior Product Manager of Community Health, Trevor Fisher, shared that they have received substantial reactions from users. "We've gotten a lot of feedback over the years, to be honest, that people want their channel bans to do more," the Twitch official said, as reported by Mashable.
Fisher also clarified that IP restrictions will not follow the planned blocking functionality. The block will only be effective if the banned people are signed into their Twitch accounts in order to guarantee its efficacy.
Although it's possible for anyone trying to get around the limitation to log out of their accounts to do so, they would still be unable to join in the discussion as Twitch needs users to be signed in. Fisher noted that Twitch plans to improve the viewer-blocking tool by adding additional features.
Fighting Unwanted Behavior Online
Twitch has long struggled with harassment, which has led to the social media platform's implementation of several troll-fighting tactics, and the new Twitch blocking tool is a step in the right direction toward making the atmosphere safer and more pleasurable for viewers as well as broadcasters, even if there is a better solution.
Twitch launched the Suspicious User Detection tool in 2021 to help creators and moderators punish ban breakers, per PC Mag. This system uses machine learning to categorize people as "Possible" or "Likely" channel-ban evaders and then take the proper action depending on the problem's seriousness. To strengthen the platform against abuse, Twitch also improved security measures that year, offering phone-verified chat and increasing email verification options.
These platform regulation improvements help to build a more wholesome and safe online broadcasting environment as Twitch continues to develop its capabilities and respond to user concerns.
