Twitch’s content classification changes have been evaluated by UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom, which found positive trends in the way streamers label content.
In June 2023, Twitch updated its content classification guidelines after the platform witnessed an increasing amount of content targeted to mature audiences, including gambling streams.
The platform applied new rules to the ways in which content is labelled, requiring streamers to apply content classification labels to indicate that the streaming content they are broadcasting contains certain mature themes.
Streamers were given six mature labels to apply to their streams: mature-rated games; sexual themes; drugs, intoxication or excessive tobacco use; violent and graphic depictions; significant profanity or vulgarity; and gambling.
As the UK’s regulator for video-sharing platforms and online safety, Ofcom published an evaluation of Twitch’s rule changes earlier this month.
The 66-page report concluded that content labelling has improved “significantly” since the introduction of CCLs, while finding that viewing behaviour and the type of content being streamed on Twitch hasn’t been “materially altered”.
The report stated: “Following the CCL change, we saw an increase in creators labelling mature content as mature. We also saw a decrease in mis-labelling of streams as mature.
“Separately, our analysis established a causal link between the CCL change and an increase in creators accurately labelling mature content as mature.”
Gambling streams
Evaluating gambling streams specifically, Ofcom found that prior to the CCL change, around 65% of gambling streams were being accurately labelled as mature.
While the evaluation didn’t state the percentage of gambling streams being accurately labelled as mature following the changes, it did suggest there had been “a sharp jump” in accuracy after studying streams within 30-days of the CCL change.
Twitch has continued to reduce the accessibility of mature content, particularly gambling streams, to under-18 audiences with updated rules and regulations.
In 2022, the streaming platform banned streamers from broadcasting footage from a number of unlicensed gambling websites, including Stake.com, Rollbit.com, Duelbits.com and Roobet.com.
More recently, Twitch introduced a new feature to allow viewers to block specific CCL categories when navigating through streams, acting as a default filter for underage viewers.