Twitch Simplifies Its Rules with Enforcement Notes

Twitch is streamlining its complex rules by introducing Enforcement Notes. Announced on Monday, these notes offer additional clarification and examples within the platform’s Community Guidelines, with the goal of improving transparency on how Twitch enforces its policies, particularly in cases where users may be unsure about what’s permissible.

The launch of Enforcement Notes follows Twitch’s recent commitment to better communicate with users, especially when it comes to suspensions. By providing specific examples within its guidelines, Twitch hopes to minimize confusion. For instance, if a trending topic violates a policy, the platform will add a note clarifying which behaviors are acceptable and which are not. These notes will also be updated in response to data trends, community concerns, or discussions on social media.

Some Enforcement Notes are already available on Twitch’s Community Guidelines page. For example, a note under the “Self-destructive behavior” rule clarifies that activities like taking shots for subscriptions are not allowed. In the “Sexual content” section, direct links to websites primarily offering intimate content are prohibited, and under “Impersonation,” users can report streams that impersonate them, even if the content doesn’t meet the criteria for DMCA removal.

These notes will not replace other communication methods, such as blog updates or social media posts. Instead, Twitch refers to them as a “source of truth” for policy updates. Currently, users can search for Enforcement Notes using a browser’s search function on the Community Guidelines page, but Twitch plans to introduce a visual symbol for new notes. A dedicated search feature is also in the works to make it easier for users to find recent updates.

This move to simplify its rulebook is part of Twitch’s effort to make its enforcement actions more transparent and user-friendly.