Twitch Tightens Attire Policy Once More

Popular streaming service Twitch is once again updating its attire policies to ban implied nudity trends common among its streaming community. 

With the change, streamers will no longer be allowed to "imply or suggest that they are fully or partially nude," nor may they show outlines of their private parts, despite being covered. 

This comes after a trend among streamers, where they censor with a "black bar" or use framing to censor their genitals, has taken over Twitch streams in an effort to find a loophole to the old attire policy. While the content did not violate the policy at the time, those streams were tagged for containing "Sexual Themes." 

In the new policy, this will be prohibited, and stricter guidelines surrounding tagged sexual content will be applied. Additionally, under the policy, female-presenting users may still show cleavage, so as long as "it is clear that the streamer is wearing clothing."

"For all streamers, you must cover the area extending from your hips to the bottom of your pelvis and buttocks. For those areas of the body where coverage is required, the coverage must be fully opaque; sheer or partially see-through clothing does not constitute coverage," the company wrote.

How Did This Trend Begin? 

Last month, the streaming platform briefly allowed nudity as long as it was tagged under "artistic nudity." This prompted the "topless meta" trend, which led to several streamers covering their private parts with censors, or strategically leaving them out of frame. 

Twitch has since dialed on this decision. 

We’re making some additional updates to our Sexual Content Policy. We realize that our earlier update caused confusion and appreciate all the feedback we’ve received. Thanks for always coming together with us to help build the best version of Twitch.

Check out the changes here:… https://t.co/Qj9IJLntff

— Twitch (@Twitch) December 15, 2023

"Moving forward, depictions of real or fictional nudity won’t be allowed on Twitch, regardless of the medium," Twitch CEO Dan Clancy wrote in a blog post.