The Internet offers users endless possibilities to connect and share their interests and hobbies, but on social networks and platforms these opportunities coexist with other threats , led by hatred, which sometimes manage to cast a shadow over the network of networks.
As was the case with Facebook , a platform that faced a boycott last year for its lack of toughness with hate speech, Twitch has come into the spotlight this week after a group of streamers organized a one-day strike (September 1) on the platform for not taking action against these episodes .
The “A Day Off Twitch” movement was promoted by ShineyPen, LuciaEverBlack and Rek It Raven and united arab emirates number data oon spread to creators around the world. Specifically, their complaint focuses on the so-called hate raids within the platform. As reported by La Vanguardia , raids allow streamers to temporarily move their audience to another channel to support each other. This function, however, has been used for other purposes by groups of harassers who hurl racist, homophobic and sexist insults in the chat of the person who is broadcasting.
Shout out to @LuciaEverblack and @ShineyPen for helping me with this! #ADayOffTwitch
September 1st, don't go live. pic.twitter.com/dU1ycC9YtM
—Raven's Not Here. (@RavenousTales_) August 20, 2021
“A Day Off Twitch” follows the “Twitch Do Better” initiative launched by users of the platform weeks ago following the racist messages received by Rek It Raven. Following this movement, Twitch spoke out: “We’ve seen a lot of conversations about bots, hate raids, and other forms of harassment targeting marginalized creators. You’ve asked us to do better, and we know we need to do more to address these issues . That includes an open and ongoing dialogue about creator safety.”
Days later, the Amazon platform assured that no one should have to experience hate attacks based on who they are or what they represent. “ This is not the community we want on Twitch , and we want you to know that we are working hard to make Twitch a safer place for creators,” they say in a Twitter thread, where they also ask users for their collaboration when reporting these attacks.