In an upcoming update to Twitch moderation tools, broadcasters will soon have more ways to combat toxicity on the website. These changes to the banning and blocking features will be available to all streamers in September and can be toggled in settings.
During Twitch’s Patch Notes live show, Trevor Fisher, the community health senior product manager, announced that when a streamer bans or blocks a user, those affected users will no longer be able to view the stream. This update will instantly disconnect blocked or banned users from the specific stream they were watching, even if it’s in the middle of a broadcast.
It’s important to note that this feature is not foolproof. Blocked or banned users can still log out of their affected account and continue viewing the stream. Additionally, it doesn’t prevent them from watching VODs or clips. However, Twitch is actively exploring other potential expansions for the feature, such as IP bans, which need to be carefully considered due to potential complications.
Despite these limitations, many streamers are thrilled with the new mod tools. Content creators appreciate Twitch’s efforts to improve the comfort and well-being of broadcasters and gain more control over unruly viewers.
Alison Huffman, the community health product lead, expressed gratitude to streamers who provided input on the new features, stating that their voices were instrumental in making it happen.
While this change won’t result in a complete IP ban, it will significantly inconvenience trolls and harassers on Twitch. Although some individuals may log out and continue viewing streams or create new accounts, it’s still a significant step in combating hate on the world’s largest streaming platform.