‘Topless meta’ went viral causing quite a roar…
Twitch is modifying its regulations around sexual content in response to rising interest in the so-called topless meta.
In early December, several streamers went viral for streaming while considered to be topless: The broadcasters preserved the illusion of being naked while live on Twitch by using creative framing (such as a low-cut tube top or nipple covers and a correctly positioned camera). Twitch banned one streamer and OnlyFans model, Morgpie, after a topless live, but the ban was for “off-screen [boob] clapping,” not for engaging in the “topless meta,” she explained.
People are once again outraged at successful women on the internet, as they were in 2021 with the hot tub meta and before that with boobie streamers. The perception that women utilize their appearances, and sex appeal, to gain an unfair advantage over other streamers fueled the virality surrounding the incident, as it has in the past. It’s a conversation (that frequently includes harassment) that women on the internet are used to, regardless of what they’re doing online. However, when sexual stuff is present, it frequently explodes up.
Given the disproportionate response, the “topless meta,” a term coined by the Twitch community to describe this particular trend, is not as common as it appears. Several streams are “topless” on Twitch at the time of writing, however, they account for only a small portion of the Just Chatting category. Twitch, on the other hand, was obliged to respond this week by clarifying and altering its guidelines on sexual content on the network. The firm is also going a step further, removing some limits on sexual content while keeping it (and other classifications such as gambling, drugs, and alcohol) off the Twitch homepage.
Twitch will now allow streamers to broadcast video that “‘deliberately highlight[s] breasts, buttocks or pelvic region,’ even when fully clothed,” according to an FAQ posted on Wednesday. The firm stated that its previous policies made it difficult for streamers to discern what was legal and what was not. “In addition, the former Sexually Suggestive Content policy was out of line with industry standards and resulted in female-presenting streamers being disproportionately penalized,” the company claimed.