Popular livestreaming platform Twitch has released a new policy update regarding usernames and what will be acceptable monikers for its users. In Twitch’s official statement, the streaming website said it seeks to set a “higher bar for what’s acceptable to better serve our global community.”
Though Twitch has long banned users with names in direct conflict with its terms of service, the platform sees a benefit to setting a stronger standard that’s “needed to cultivate a diverse, inclusive global community on Twitch.” Usernames now referring to “sexual acts, arousal, fluids, or genitalia” along with those referencing hard drugs will be flagged for either immediate changes or indefinite bans.
This new username policy will be rolled out in a tiered system, which will affect users with potentially offensive names differently. Users with already existing names that are deemed hateful, violent, or otherwise in violation of the wider Twitch TOS will be indefinitely banned.
Usernames that violate the new additions to this policy, meaning those in reference to sexual acts or drugs but aren’t in violation of pre-existing, wider community regulations, will be forced to undergo an immediate name reset. Twitch ensures that users who have to switch their usernames will retain all followers, subscribers, bits, and history.
Twitch will be implementing a machine learning model to prevent new usernames that violate this policy from popping up. Still, the broadcasting platform admitted that this won’t be a perfect solution and encourages users to continue reporting those with violating names.
This new username policy will go into effect on March 1.
