Twitch Introduces Shield Mode to Combat Hate Raids
Twitch has officially activated Shield Mode, a new safety feature that aims to combat hate raids on the platform. The announcement comes after the platform’s recent update on its efforts to address this issue. Now, channel owners and moderators can access the tool by clicking on the shield icon below chat, enabling an extra layer of moderation to their channels to quickly deal with toxic behavior.
Enhancing Safety with Shield Mode
Shield Mode offers channel owners and moderators the ability to activate preset safety settings with just one click. By utilizing this feature, streamers can effectively remove harassing messages and users from chat. Twitch states that Shield Mode combines and enhances existing safety tools, providing an efficient and comprehensive solution for tackling hate raids in a pinch.
According to a blog post by Twitch, Shield Mode introduces new capabilities while also leveraging existing safety tools. It allows users to pre-set multiple safety settings that can be easily activated when higher levels of protection are needed. This feature empowers streamers to swiftly enhance their safety settings in response to receiving harassing messages in chat.
New Options for Streamers
Shield Mode offers streamers several options, including the ability to bulk ban and the ability to prevent first-time chatters from participating. Previously, streamers had to rely on follower-only or sub-only mode to restrict new users from chatting.
Additionally, Shield Mode allows streamers to mass ban chatters who spam specific words or phrases. While some may use this feature as a lighthearted way to ban trolls, it serves as a critical tool for channels vulnerable to hate raids based on race, sexuality, or gender identity.
The platform announced on Twitter that Shield Mode is “rolling out” today, but it did not specify whether it will be immediately available to all streamers. Streamers can check for the shield icon in their channel’s chat to see if the feature is accessible. Shield Mode can be toggled on and off using the commands “/shield” and “/shieldoff.”