Correction: We erroneously reported that Zentreya had been banned. Zentreya only received an official warning for content that had previously been considered acceptable by Twitch.
Over the past week, multiple VTubers have experienced weird interactions with Twitch support wherein their accounts are being banned.
Users are experiencing bans for unclear reasons, or even when they are made clear they are being banned for things that were seemingly acceptable as little as a month ago. Of note, VShojo talent Zentreya was caught up in one of these actions.
Now mind you this isn’t a ban, this is a warning, but if I show the swimsuit toggle for even a minute, I will most likely be banned. So it’s a very weird situation. I was just standing there and talking about a normal topic far from screen.
So in dangerous waters atm.— Zentreya⚡🐲 VSHOJO (@zentreya) September 16, 2024
What makes it stranger is that Twitch appears to be making moderation decisions based on community outcry. VTuber FallenShadow (affectionately referred to as Shondo by fans) was banned for allegedly running afoul of Twitch’s policy on “self-harm behavior”. Only a few days later Twitch reversed their decision while still claiming that they were correct in their initial ban.
hahahah what though
so they're admitting it's only because of backlash? O_o
Ok… pic.twitter.com/Iz80sU5JWc— 🎀 🍫 🔪 shadow || しゃどう || purple people eater!!! (@fallenshadow_YT) September 15, 2024
VTubers and VTuber fans are used to a certain degree of double standards from Twitch. With sexualized streams featuring female streamers in the flesh often going overlooked if not tacitly encouraged, meanwhile anime women are apparently held to a higher standards. One VTuber joked about pasting their head over a woman in a bikini in order to avoid Twitch’s erratic moderation.
ohno twitch don't ban me pic.twitter.com/vHKJ6pydUD
— Yuria of Ailurus 🎋Angel's Sword (@YuriaVT) September 17, 2024
Even Twitch Ambassadors are left confused by the site’s recent actions, especially since a handful of Ambassadors are VTubers themselves. But as one member explains, Ambassadors aren’t exactly privy to backend discussions about site moderation.
It’s worth mentioning that the largest VTuber company in the world hololive primarily uses YouTube.
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