Live streaming juggernaut Twitch has recently created a new category for those who stream in a hot tub.
The move comes after the company received a fair amount of backlash from both viewers and advertisers in the wake of the new trend on the platform.
Now, those who stream via their hot tub will be put under the category “Pools, Hot Tubs, and Beaches” so it is clear to everyone. This decision also allows those advertising on the platform to designate if they want ads there or not.
Just a few days before the new designation, the company took a number of ads off of those who fit into the hot tub streaming category. There was no warning about the decision, and the company has since declared that a mistake on their end.
Twitch has had a long history of bias, the company’s reaction to channels that stream sexual content are hard to ignore when other channels are suspended or banned for less.
A Twitch representative followed up by saying, “We did not alert impacted creators at the time, and we should have–our creators rely on us” and the company is now attempting to “restore ads where appropriate.”
One of the larger streamers on the platform, Amouranth, was hit with the ad suspension. Currently, however, her channel is back to showing ads with the hot tub streams no longer available to access.
In addition, the company says that this does not mean it will change any of its current policies. There is no ban on hosting a stream in clothing that fits into a specific context such as a bathing suit at a beach.
The streaming giant elaborated further on this non- change in policy, “Being found to be sexy by others is not against our rules, and Twitch will not take enforcement action against women, or anyone on our service, for their perceived attractiveness.”
Of course, these streamers in question are usually women who can often be subjected to sexual harassment from those on the platform. It is certainly one way to gain eyeballs but it does have risks for this very reason. The company hopes to minimize this form of harassment in the future.
Twitch also maintains that the new category is more of a short-term solution for advertisers and plans to implement further actions as part of more of a long-term strategy. The key for now is letting these advertisers opt out of having their ads on the more risque content.
Whether or not this will mean less of the trending hot tub streamers from popping up is uncertain. Now that the videos are not quite as front and center might make the appeal of wearing a bathing suit less appetizing for streamers.
Finally, If there are fewer advertisers willing to have their ads placed in these streams, there will be less revenue overall in the category and perhaps a decrease in the recent trend.
