Twitch Adds 'Artistic Nudity' Policy After Banning Topless Streamer
Being topless gets you banned on Twitch. Imagine that.
By Syazwan Bahri — 14 Dec 2023, 04:15 PM
This past weekend, on 8 December, Twitch witnessed the emergence of a new 'trend'
This recent trend, referred to as the new 'meta' by Twitch viewers, revolves around going topless on stream. It goes without saying that nudity can result in streamers facing the consequences of Twitch's moderation policies, potentially leading to a ban.
That is exactly what happened to Twitch streamer Morgpie after appearing to stream topless. She received a ban following the provocative broadcast, where she exposed her shoulders and the top half of her breasts.
In response, Twitch rolled out a new sexual content policy that now permits previously prohibited content
The new content policy update comes after Morgpie's streams went viral.
Many male streamers expressed discontent over her stream, urging Twitch to take action against what they perceived as nudity. Morgpie was banned on 11 December, just two days before Twitch revamped its content guidelines.
Interestingly, Jessica Ly, also known as asianbunnyx, has produced similar content without facing a ban.
Twitch has offered a detailed explanation regarding the new policy
The new policy is quite detailed, but it appears to have some contradictions. Cartoon boobs, for instance, are allowed only in specific contexts. 'Fictionalised' representations — such as drawings or animations — of fully exposed breasts, buttocks or genitals, irrespective of gender, are acceptable.
However, VTubers using augmented reality avatars must follow the same clothing rules as regular streamers. Real human nipples must be covered for female-presenting individuals, but cleavage is still allowed without restrictions.
Interestingly, displaying your underboobs remains off-limits, while sideboobs were not specifically addressed in the policy update.
Despite her ban, Morgpie praised Twitch for the changes made to the sexual content guideline
Speaking to Dexerto, Morgpie lauded Twitch's stance to allow mature content, stating that the change is a win for everyone.
"I care about Twitch as a platform, and I care about whether or not inappropriate content is being pushed to the wrong audience," she told Dexerto.
"With the updated terms of service, content on Twitch containing mature themes will be allowed but no longer pushed on the homepage of the site. I think this is the best possible outcome, because it gives creators much more freedom, while also keeping this content from reaching the wrong audience. Bravo, Twitch!" she added.
This new 'meta' is reminiscent of an outdated trend, commonly referred to as the 'Hot Tub stream'
The 'topless meta' bears some resemblance to the 'Hot Tub meta' initiated by another streamer, Amouranth, in 2021. This trend prompted Twitch to create a separate category for 'Pools, Hot Tubs & Beaches'.
Nevertheless, numerous Twitch streamers and viewers expressed their disappointment with Twitch's policy update, and there are growing calls for the platform to stop this trending 'meta' in its tracks.
