{"id":22150,"date":"2022-07-22T09:43:46","date_gmt":"2022-07-22T09:43:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/twitch-streamers-positive-about-new-raid-feature-in-response-to-harassment\/"},"modified":"2022-07-22T09:43:46","modified_gmt":"2022-07-22T09:43:46","slug":"twitch-streamers-positive-about-new-raid-feature-in-response-to-harassment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/twitch-streamers-positive-about-new-raid-feature-in-response-to-harassment\/","title":{"rendered":"Twitch streamers positive about new raid feature in response to harassment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At TwitchCon Amsterdam, streaming giant Twitch announced a number of new safety features coming soon to the platform.\n<\/p>\n

This includes the ability for streamers to customize who can “raid” them, plus the ability to share a list of banned accounts with other streamers. Both of these features are in response to the mass wave of hate raids that affected marginalised streamers last year.\n<\/p>\n

The features were introduced at the opening ceremony by Twitch CEO Emmett Shear: “We’re never going to be done with safety on Twitch, it’s a goal without end.\n<\/p>\n

“When we say we want Twitch to be the best place to be a streamer, we mean making your experience with chat safe to be an essential part of that goal. One major priority for us is raising the safety baseline – that’s the level of protection you can expect from Twitch without having to do anything at all.”\n<\/p>\n

Eurogamer Newscast: In a year short on Sony and Microsoft exclusives, is this the Switch’s best yet?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

So how can raids be customized? Streamers will be able to set an upper and lower threshold as to the number of viewers in a potential incoming raid, as well as the age of the account.\n<\/p>\n

They can further customize whether raids can come from teammates, followed channels, subscribers, and more. Raid controls will be more easily accessible while live. They can also be turned off completely.\n<\/p>\n

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Twitch raid customization.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sharing banned accounts between streamers “helps the community protect each other before harassment can spread,” said Shear.\n<\/p>\n

It’s unclear how soon these new features will be implemented, but streamers from marginalized groups are positive about the changes.\n<\/p>\n

“I think it’s a good safety feature because right now your only option is no raids or people you follow and there’s no inbetween,” streamer CypherOfTyr told Eurogamer. “So I like it because it steps the verification process. I don’t know if it will stop hate raids because when people are determined, they’re determined. But I do think it will be a big help.”\n<\/p>\n

“This is something that should’ve come a long time ago,” says CoderGirlChan. “I’m happy it’s here though, I’m glad we can moderate the raids coming in. As someone in the LGBT+ community and the Black community we’re the hardest hit by this. So the fact we can control who’s coming in and protect our community, that’s huge. During Black History Month I got hate raided three times in one stream and I just ended because it was defeating. So if I can control it, that’s super important for me to stay safe.”\n<\/p>\n

LukeBoogie agrees, though, that the timing is late.\n<\/p>\n

“What’s taken so long? That’s the same issue Twitch always has with transparency, you never really know what they’re working on. You’re shouting out into the void and you never know if Twitch is listening. We’ve finally got something but it’s taken too long to get there,” they say.\n<\/p>\n

CafeEla is also positive about the change, particularly the control it gives to streamers.\n<\/p>\n

“No one has to use it but when being targeted by hate raids, it seems to give some peace of mind and prevent harassment and hate,” she says. “Also I know of people who have raids deactivated in general out of anxiety reasons, which is very understandable. So this just gives more customization towards it, so you don’t have to either turn on or turn off anymore.”\n<\/p>\n