Content creator and Twitch streamer Meowko was temporarily banned from the platform after streaming herself cooking while wearing what she described as gym clothes. Meowko is a Japanese streamer who streams a variety of content, such as fitness and discussing Japanese culture. As of the time of writing, she has over 275,000 followers on Twitch.
For years, Twitch would not give streamers the reasons why they had been banned. This finally changed on August 9, 2021, when Twitch confirmed that more details would be given after a ban was issued. This meant that streamers could learn the name and date of the stream that got them banned, which proved beneficial in helping streamers make cases to lift bans on their accounts, especially those who stream regularly. The change also served to shed light on some flaws in Twitch’s banning system, which has seen users banned for a range of reasons, from intimate shaving on stream to Twitch watch party DMCA strikes.
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Taking to Twitter to share news of her ban, Meowko shared both her frustration and confusion over the reasons Twitch gave her, noting she “got banned for wearing gym clothes while cooking” (via Dexerto). Seen in screenshots shared by the streamer in a follow-up tweet, the Twitch stream reportedly came under fire for featuring “someone that is wearing a speedo or bikini while cooking.” Meowko has done streams in the past about fitness, going to spas while wearing bikinis, and cooking, so that particular reason came as a surprise to both her and her fans. The more confusing reason Twitch stated was for “using an Augmented Reality avatar on stream that has insufficient coverage,” as Meowko reiterated that she doesn’t use avatars of any kind on her streams. It seems the situation was resolved fairly quickly, with Meowko later tweeting that she’d been unbanned by Twitch.
While things were resolved for the streamer in a relatively timely manner, Meowko is one of many banned Twitch content creators to deal with this frustration. There’s been no shortage of creators who’ve received bans for alleged breaches of the platform’s terms of service, but that have later been disputed, often with the help of viewers who rally around those they believe have been banned unfairly. Bans often revolve around what Twitch streamers wear, with many believing Twitch’s rules for clothing are outdated.
While Twitch streaming is a fun hobby for some, it’s a career for others, so bans like Meowko’s aren’t only an inconvenience but a threat to their livelihood. Many streamers turn to their audience on Twitch for support, hosting donation streams to raise money for essentials such as rent or medical bills. Whether they stream in addition to another job or stream exclusively, Twitch is a career for many content creators so these surprise bans have many people concerned if they will get one next. Lots of streamers are still hoping for the platform to reconsider what should constitute a ban.
Source: Meowko/Twitter (1, 2) (via Dexerto)
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Devin Connelly
(2 Articles Published)
Devin Connelly is a freelance gaming writer for Screen Rant. She is also a concept artist, creative director, and lead writer for her own game “Romance is Dead”.
Based in Los Angeles with her cat Briley, she has been writing, drawing, and playing video games for as long as she can remember. She also loves to cook and talk about history.
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