Twitch has updated its sexual content guidelines in response to widespread outrage caused by a new ‘topless’ meta taking over the site.
Over the weekend of December 8, a new ‘meta’ gained popularity on Twitch after streamer, cosplayer, and OnlyFans model ‘Morgpie’ went viral on social media
Morgpie’s stream showed the broadcaster seemingly topless, causing outrage on the internet about what types of content were permitted on Twitch.
Morgpie was banned three days later, but Twitch has now officially changed its guidelines regarding sexual content on its platform, resulting in significant changes for streamers.
What is Twitch’s new policy around sexual content?
Twitch released a massive update to its “approach to sexual content” on December 13 in response to feedback from streamers.
Twitch clarified a few major changes for the update in a lengthy post, one of which now allows “content that ‘deliberately highlights breasts, buttocks, or pelvic region,’ even when fully clothed” — as long as it is properly labeled.
This corresponds to one of the three reasons Twitch gave Morgpie her ban earlier this week, leading viewers to believe that ‘topless’ streams may be permitted in the future.
Twitch also acknowledged that its previous stance on this content “was out of line with industry standards and resulted in female-presenting streamers being disproportionately penalized.”
Other policies that were previously illegal but are now legal with a label include “fictionalized…fully exposed female-presenting breasts and/or genitals or buttocks regardless of gender.” “body writing on female-presenting breasts and/or buttocks regardless of gender,” as well as “erotic dances that involve disrobing or disrobing gestures, such as strip teases.”
Not only that, but certain dances such as “twerking, grinding, and pole dancing” are now allowed to stream on Twitch without a label, and broadcasts labeled with “Drugs, Intoxication, or Excessive Tobacco Use; Violent and Graphic Depictions; Gambling; and/or Sexual Themes” will no longer be allowed on Twitch’s home page.
This represents a significant shift in Twitch’s policies regarding such content. While reactions appear to be mixed at the moment, many viewers are pleased with the changes to the site’s homepage.