While many streamers warn about cyberbullying they are victims of, Twitch strengthens its security policy against waves of hate. The platform announced on November 30 the launch of a “Shield” mode for streamers that centralizes existing tools and enables new features.
Shield mode is a new space available in the Twitch settings that allows you to control existing security tools, in particular to block messages in chat and adapt verification tools such as phone or email.
The mode also adds two features: Streamers can choose words or phrases to ban viewers who have recently used them in chats. The second option called “don’t chat for the first time” can prevent someone from intervening in the chat if they have never communicated in the channel before. It is possible to activate or deactivate the mode using the “shield on” and “shield off” commands from the channel page.
According to Twitch, current security tools are great at protecting creators from malicious attacks, but have a negative effect on a channel’s ability to grow. Shield Mode allows streamers to temporarily increase their security, then return to normal once the harassment wave has passed.
Twitch is stepping up its game as the #TwitchDoBetter movement led creators to organize a one-day boycott of the platform in 2021 to protest that the platform wasn’t doing enough to protect them.
The platform also indicates that other features are being worked on and that it will continue to make them customizable.
Source: BFM TV
