Twitch Overhauls Safety Advisory Council with Creator Ambassadors

Twitch is making a significant change to its Safety Advisory Council, replacing all current members with creators from its ambassador program. The council, established in 2020, was designed to enhance Twitch’s approach to trust and safety, involving members in policy development and feature creation to protect streamers, especially those in marginalized groups.

Original Council Members

The initial council included:

• Twitch partner streamers: cupahnoodle, ferociouslysteph, and zizaran
• Twitch moderators: Doladdar and PonyNamedTony
• Industry experts: Dr. Sameer Hinduja, Emma Llansó, and Dr. T.L. Taylor

These members were involved in crucial decisions regarding platform safety and policy updates, aimed at preventing hate raids and harassment.

The Transition

According to a CNBC report, Twitch informed council members in a meeting on May 6 that their contracts would end on May 31, without payment for the latter half of 2024. Council members were reportedly paid between $10,000 and $20,000 annually for their service.

“Looking ahead, the Safety Advisory Council will primarily be made up of individuals who serve as Twitch Ambassadors,” Twitch said in an email to council members. A Twitch spokesperson confirmed the decision, stating that the platform aims to bring in new council members to offer fresh, diverse perspectives. With 180 creators in its ambassador program, Twitch believes this new format will incorporate more voices and perspectives.

The spokesperson did not comment on whether the new creator council members would be compensated.

Context and Reactions

This restructuring comes after challenging years for Twitch, marked by financial struggles, major layoffs (including a 15% cut in the Trust & Safety team), and controversial policy changes. Despite these issues, Twitch's new CEO Dan Clancy has received positive feedback from creators for his willingness to engage with them directly and acknowledge areas for improvement.

Clancy’s approach includes speaking with creators both online and in person, listening to their concerns, and being transparent about the platform’s challenges. By shifting the Safety Advisory Council to be composed entirely of streamers, Twitch aims to gain a closer understanding of its creator community's needs and preferences.

Looking Forward

Twitch's decision to integrate its ambassador program members into the Safety Advisory Council reflects a strategy to better align with creator insights and foster a safer, more inclusive platform. This move is expected to provide Twitch with valuable perspectives from active content creators, enhancing the platform's ability to address the evolving needs of its diverse user base.

Four Key Takeaways:

1. Council Restructuring: Twitch is replacing all current members of its Safety Advisory Council with creators from its ambassador program to incorporate fresh and diverse perspectives on trust and safety issues.
2. Original Council Role: The original council, formed in 2020, included streamers, moderators, and industry experts who helped draft policies and develop features to protect streamers, particularly those from marginalized groups.
3. New Council Composition: The new council will primarily consist of Twitch Ambassadors, allowing Twitch to pull in more voices and perspectives from its creator community.
4. CEO Engagement: CEO Dan Clancy’s efforts to engage directly with creators and acknowledge areas for improvement have been well-received, and the council restructuring aims to better address the community's evolving needs.

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