Twitch introduces a new feature in chat. Banned users can now justify themselves in a private channel and hope for a second chance. But streamers and moderators are wondering: “Really?”
What is the new feature? In a tweet on September 30, 2020, the streaming service Twitch announced that it has now implemented a new widget in the moderator view of the chat. In it, one can see and evaluate “unban requests.”
The feature is meant to allow banned users in chat to justify their actions and possibly point out an unjustified ban. Until now, a banned user in chat was invisible and had no way to make their voice heard. It’s unfortunate if one was banned by mistake or due to a misunderstanding. Therefore, Twitch wants to give those poor, wrongly banned users a second chance with this feature.
However, in the eyes of many content creators, the feature seems well-intentioned but poorly executed.
Streamers find ban channel dumb – “I ban people for a good reason!”
Here’s why the feature is not well received: What Twitch envisioned as a positive feature did not sit well with streamers and moderators at all. Because in this way, banned users can not only beg for an unban but also continue to hurl insults and meanness. Just in a dedicated channel for that purpose.
“I can hardly wait to be harassed again in my ‘unban requests’,” tweets streamer Retro Ali.
Twitch soon responded and explained that each user can only post one unban request in this channel and that the channel does not allow spam.
Nevertheless, many streamers find the feature simply dumb and unnecessary. Because if you ban someone, it must be for a good reason, right? Why should we give trolls their own platform to complain? This would only create more hassle and trouble, and hardly anyone wanted such a feature.
Do all streamers think this feature is stupid? No, actually, there are some streamers who really like the idea. For example, Twitter user PlayWithPenny states that she welcomes this feature as a streamer. It is especially better for the mods who otherwise would be harassed in direct messages or would have to sort through tables of bans.
On Twitch, not only viewers can be banned but also entire streamers. This was also the case for the controversial streamer Dr. Disrespect, who has been struggling with the ban.
