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Twitch APAC Chief Content Officer Lewis Mitchell spoke with Dexerto about what the company is currently doing along with its future plans to ensure the streaming platform promotes inclusivity and diversity.
For Twitch, encouraging diversity and inclusion on the platform is a mission the company seems dedicated to. In an exclusive interview at PAX Australia, Dexerto sat down with APAC Content Director Lewis Mitchell to chat about all things related.
While Twitch allows everyone to be online and allows viewers to tune in, this openness unfortunately opens the way for some inappropriate behavior.
In particular, many famous female content creators, such as Kyedae, Pokimane and many others, have spoken out about the sexism and misogyny they encountered while using Twitch. Whether it’s comments from chat or even their fellow streamers, female representation on Twitch and streaming in general still has a long way to go.
Twitter: PokimanePokimane gets candid about the sexism she faces on Twitch and while streaming
Almost all of Twitch’s most-watched streamers are men, many of whom are also white and identify as heterosexual. While this demographic is being widely represented on Twitch, the rest of the gaming community is still trying to find its footing in the world of streaming.
After all, we live in a world where anyone and everyone can play and enjoy video games. It is no longer a male-dominated hobby but instead a hobby for everyone. So what is Twitch doing to ensure that LGBTQ+ streamers, content creators of color, and other minorities feel safe and supported when they turn on Twitch and go live?
Twitch’s mission is to promote “diverse creators” on the platform
When discussing inclusivity, Mitchell first started by talking about the programs available at Twitch today to help encourage diverse creators to start and stream.
“We’ve expanded the programs we run to really promote diversity among creators. We’ve spent a lot of time and come up with some really good tools to help ensure that it’s a safe space. It’s really important that everything we do comes with that safe space.”
For diverse creators, the idea of having a safe space is a constant conversation on their minds. During the interview, Mitchell further explained how they ensure all content creators are taken care of and feel comfortable and supported by Twitch.
“We released an update where if you ban a viewer, they will no longer be able to watch the stream. That was a loud cry from minority groups, something we heard when we went to these conferences.”
The power of moderators and how they help control the conversation on Twitch
Mitchell then added, “User Voice is a system we use, anyone can come on. We’re really active in that, the product team is largely using it. One of those requests was banned by viewers.
“We’ve really done a lot to update our moderation tools. Cross-pollinated moderation tools have emerged, where the moderator will ban someone and can note why that person was banned.
TwitchTwitch has implemented many tools to help protect its creators.
Why is this feeling of security important to Twitch, you ask? In the eyes of those who work there, the most important cogs in the machine are the content creators and moderators, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the platform remains a viable space. Inclusion for everyone.
“Everyone says creators are the heart and soul of Twitch, I would consider moderators the soul. It doesn’t work without them.”
Moderation is one of the most important tools Twitch has to help eliminate negativity on the platform and create a safe space for content creators. And while helpful, the fact that this is a core aspect of streaming culture also points to how sexism, homophobia, and racism are expected in the streaming world.
The quest for inclusion on Twitch is always underway
And while there are already systems and programs in place to help diversify the type of content and streamers on Twitch, Mitchell admits that there’s still work to be done. Twitch is always looking to make further advances to help ensure inclusivity remains firmly embedded in the foundation of the platform.
“We continuously communicate internally and review policies, updating them based on emerging situations. That is absolutely paramount to what we do, ensuring that creators have a safe space to be as creative as they want.”
TwitchTwitch is slowly building a diverse base of content creators
With a clear vision of what they hope to achieve with regards to greater inclusivity and diversity on Twitch, the streaming platform and content creators we’re seeing grow in popularity will hope to respond. reflects the work Twitch is doing to ensure that anyone and everyone can stream on the site.
However, the battle between maintaining profitability and recruiting new talent is one where Twitch still needs to find a happy medium between all the streaming platforms.
After all, it’s safe to say that Twitch has had a rocky relationship with its creators lately. One of the biggest stories of the year was the back-and-forth over what percentage of revenue streamers bring in from their subscriber counts.
But knowing these conversations are happening and that Twitch is working to build inclusivity and support diverse talent will certainly be exciting for many active users, streamers alike audience and audience.
After more Twitch related news and updates? Be sure to check out Dexerto’s full coverage here.
Categories: Entertainment
Source: Tekmonk Bio
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