The #ADayOffTwitch boycott has begun with a whole host of streamers protesting to highlight the policies at Twitch that have resulted in marginalized creators bearing the brunt of hate raids with little help combatting them.
"We are asking Twitch to hold a round-table discussion with affected creators to assist with the creation & implementation of more proactive and comprehensive toolsets to combat abuse on their streaming platform," a post by the protest organizers stated. "We are asking Twitch to remove the ability to attach more than three Twitch accounts to one email address. We are asking Twitch to provide transparency into the actions being taken to protect creators."
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Partaking in the protest is simple – don't stream. For today, streamers joining in on the protest are going dark until September 2 in an attempt to make their plights heard by Twitch, hoping that through this awareness, change will be made. Streamers Rek It Raven, Shineypen, and LuciaEverBlack organized this boycott, but others have since joined in to show soladirity. For instance, Travis McElroy, Inel Tomlinson, iamBrandon, The Yetee, AvaGG, and more aren't streaming today.
While the movement seeks to improve Twitch, moving platforms isn't out of the question. Facebook has a means of blocking raids altogether, while DrLupo has just signed a deal with YouTube Gaming, making it appear as a good alternative to many. Streamlabs, a competitor, has recently implemented tipping that lets viewers donate not unlike with Twitch.
"I don't have plans to find a new platform," organizer ShineyPen told TheVerge. "However, I do believe that having an alternative is good to have in our back pockets." Twitch is the go-to when thinking of livestreaming video games for many, but it has been plagued with a conveyer belt of issues as of late from Twitch's cracking down on the hot tub stream meta to the hate raids that have been brought to light. Hate raids aim to push marginalized creators off the platform, and so some argue that leaving would be giving in.
The aim for #ADayOffTwitch is to get people talking, to raise awareness, to bring the problem to Twitch's attention. All of these goals have already been met through the build-up alone, but today marks the streamers' action, the actual blackout. Whatever happens, Twitch has acknowledged the hate raids and says that it is working to stop them, but streamers are demanding transparency and specifics, so time will tell if Twitch divulges.
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