Rules of Conduct
Below are our Rules of Conduct we ask you follow while using Twitch. Also explained at the bottom is the difference between suspension types.Notice an error in this article? Let us know!
At Twitch, our mission is to provide the best platform for live gaming content created by the community at large, wherein broadcasters and viewers can interact in real time. To achieve this goal, we ask that all users participate in such a way that promotes a positive experience for our global audience.
To protect the integrity of our community, as the provider of the service, Twitch employees and global moderators reserve the right to suspend any account at any time for any activity that we deem inappropriate or harmful. You are free to petition your case (we review every petition), but we are not inclined nor required to provide a reason at the time of suspension.
There is no fixed time as to the length of a suspension unless we inform you otherwise. We will unsuspend accounts at our discretion based on review of your actions, account standing, and whatever other information we have. Our Customer Support team reviews all requests for reinstatement, and we process these along with all other Customer Support requests, thus we will respond to you when we are done helping users with accounts in good standing.
In addition to our Terms of Service, we provide the following list of behaviors that could lead to suspension of your account or channel. These behaviors fall under a common sense philosophy. If you find yourself asking whether or not you're crossing the line, chances are you shouldn't do it.
If you are in violation of the Rules of Conduct or Twitch's Terms of Service your account may be suspended. To appeal a channel suspension you will need to contact us via this form. Channel suspensions can not be dealt with over Twitter or any other mediums.
Channel owners and their appointed channel moderators are free to suspend users from their channel at any time for any reason. If you have been suspended from a channel, you will need to contact the channel owner or an appointed channel moderator to ask for reinstatement.
If you are banned from a chat channel please do not evade that ban by using another account or creating another one. This is grounds for suspension from our services and can be seen as harassment.
For more on our DMCA (ie, copyright) guidelines, please go here. DMCA covers music, movies, television, etc.
DMCA violations may result in very severe actions, including indefinite suspension.
To protect the integrity of our community, as the provider of the service, Twitch employees and global moderators reserve the right to suspend any account at any time for any activity that we deem inappropriate or harmful. You are free to petition your case (we review every petition), but we are not inclined nor required to provide a reason at the time of suspension.
There is no fixed time as to the length of a suspension unless we inform you otherwise. We will unsuspend accounts at our discretion based on review of your actions, account standing, and whatever other information we have. Our Customer Support team reviews all requests for reinstatement, and we process these along with all other Customer Support requests, thus we will respond to you when we are done helping users with accounts in good standing.
In addition to our Terms of Service, we provide the following list of behaviors that could lead to suspension of your account or channel. These behaviors fall under a common sense philosophy. If you find yourself asking whether or not you're crossing the line, chances are you shouldn't do it.
Self destructive behavior
In theory, playing video games is one of the safest activities one can possibly engage in. Don't ruin this by harming yourself physically, drinking excessively or endangering yourself in any way while broadcasting.
Sexually explicit content from games to images you show to links
Nudity can't be a core focus or feature of the game in question and modded nudity is disallowed in its entirety. Occurrences in game are ok so long as you do not make them a primary focus of your broadcast and only spend as much time as needed in the area to progress the game's story.
NSFW images, whether shown on screen or linked in chat, are also not ok. So don't post or click such links in chat and show them on screen without viewing them offscreen first to determine if they are appropriate.
Dress...appropriately
Nerds are sexy, and you're all magnificent, beautiful creatures, but let's try and keep this about the games, shall we?
Wearing no clothing or sexually suggestive clothing - including lingerie, swimsuits, pasties, and undergarments - will most likely get you suspended, as well as any full nude torsos*, which applies to both male and female broadcasters. You may have a great six-pack, but that's better shared on the beach during a 2-on-2 volleyball game blasting "Playing with the Boys."
* If it's unbearably hot where you are, and you happen to have your shirt off (gents) or a bikini top (ladies), then just crop the webcam to your face. If your lighting is hot, get fluorescent bulbs to reduce the heat. Xbox One Kinect doesn't zoom? Move it closer to you, or turn it off. There is always a workaround.
We sell t-shirts, and those are always acceptable. #Kappa
Don't break the law
Is whatever that thing you're doing illegal? Yeah, don't do that. Seriously. Stop.
Spam
No one likes a broken record, so please respect the channel moderators and do not participate in posting repetitive or unwanted messages.
Racism, sexism, homophobia, or other hate speech
We're not going to tell you to watch the potty mouth. That's between you and your mother who doesn't approve anyway. What we will tell you, however, is that if you choose to use language or produce content that is racist, sexist, homophobic or falls under generally accepted guidelines for hate speech, you will quite likely be suspended.
Harassment or defamation of other users, Twitch staff, or Twitch volunteers, which includes sending users to another channel (notably if the channel owner complains)
Treat others the way you'd like to be treated, and don't be a jerk. It's really as simple as that. If you need help in figuring out whether or not you're being a jerk, please refer to this simple chart. And if you’d like to “raid” a channel, ask for permission!
Botting or hacking of online games
At Twitch, we work with the brilliant people who make all these wonderful video games to ensure that we, nor our community, are stepping on anyone's toes. That said, please respect their terms of service and their communities by not hacking, botting, or by cheating in their online games.
Streaming games before release without permission
See above. Please respect all publisher or developer enforced NDA periods and street dates. Don't be a spoiler!
Re-streaming of another channel's content without permission
Don't cross the streams! This rule also holds for content located on websites outside of Twitch, as well. If you're not the point of origin, don't put it on your channel.
Attempts to evade suspension
When you're suspended from Twitch, you are cast out with the other Morlocks. Any attempts to create a new account, identity or broadcast your personality to a Twitch channel (for example, appearing in a video chat, Skype call or being rebroadcast from a different site) will only prolong your suspension.
Twitch staff or volunteer impersonation
You're good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like you. Why would you want to impersonate anyone else? Besides, if you do, those people who like you will be the aforementioned Morlocks.
Non-gaming content
Not sure if you noticed this, but Twitch is a place for games. Video games, board games, card games, fantasy sports, LARP games -- you name it. And while it's nice to take a break and just chill out with your audience, please ensure that your channel's primary focus is on gaming content.
In theory, playing video games is one of the safest activities one can possibly engage in. Don't ruin this by harming yourself physically, drinking excessively or endangering yourself in any way while broadcasting.
Sexually explicit content from games to images you show to links
Nudity can't be a core focus or feature of the game in question and modded nudity is disallowed in its entirety. Occurrences in game are ok so long as you do not make them a primary focus of your broadcast and only spend as much time as needed in the area to progress the game's story.
NSFW images, whether shown on screen or linked in chat, are also not ok. So don't post or click such links in chat and show them on screen without viewing them offscreen first to determine if they are appropriate.
Dress...appropriately
Nerds are sexy, and you're all magnificent, beautiful creatures, but let's try and keep this about the games, shall we?
Wearing no clothing or sexually suggestive clothing - including lingerie, swimsuits, pasties, and undergarments - will most likely get you suspended, as well as any full nude torsos*, which applies to both male and female broadcasters. You may have a great six-pack, but that's better shared on the beach during a 2-on-2 volleyball game blasting "Playing with the Boys."
* If it's unbearably hot where you are, and you happen to have your shirt off (gents) or a bikini top (ladies), then just crop the webcam to your face. If your lighting is hot, get fluorescent bulbs to reduce the heat. Xbox One Kinect doesn't zoom? Move it closer to you, or turn it off. There is always a workaround.
We sell t-shirts, and those are always acceptable. #Kappa
Don't break the law
Is whatever that thing you're doing illegal? Yeah, don't do that. Seriously. Stop.
Spam
No one likes a broken record, so please respect the channel moderators and do not participate in posting repetitive or unwanted messages.
Racism, sexism, homophobia, or other hate speech
We're not going to tell you to watch the potty mouth. That's between you and your mother who doesn't approve anyway. What we will tell you, however, is that if you choose to use language or produce content that is racist, sexist, homophobic or falls under generally accepted guidelines for hate speech, you will quite likely be suspended.
Harassment or defamation of other users, Twitch staff, or Twitch volunteers, which includes sending users to another channel (notably if the channel owner complains)
Treat others the way you'd like to be treated, and don't be a jerk. It's really as simple as that. If you need help in figuring out whether or not you're being a jerk, please refer to this simple chart. And if you’d like to “raid” a channel, ask for permission!
Botting or hacking of online games
At Twitch, we work with the brilliant people who make all these wonderful video games to ensure that we, nor our community, are stepping on anyone's toes. That said, please respect their terms of service and their communities by not hacking, botting, or by cheating in their online games.
Streaming games before release without permission
See above. Please respect all publisher or developer enforced NDA periods and street dates. Don't be a spoiler!
Re-streaming of another channel's content without permission
Don't cross the streams! This rule also holds for content located on websites outside of Twitch, as well. If you're not the point of origin, don't put it on your channel.
Attempts to evade suspension
When you're suspended from Twitch, you are cast out with the other Morlocks. Any attempts to create a new account, identity or broadcast your personality to a Twitch channel (for example, appearing in a video chat, Skype call or being rebroadcast from a different site) will only prolong your suspension.
Twitch staff or volunteer impersonation
You're good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like you. Why would you want to impersonate anyone else? Besides, if you do, those people who like you will be the aforementioned Morlocks.
Non-gaming content
Not sure if you noticed this, but Twitch is a place for games. Video games, board games, card games, fantasy sports, LARP games -- you name it. And while it's nice to take a break and just chill out with your audience, please ensure that your channel's primary focus is on gaming content.
Channel Suspensions
If you are in violation of the Rules of Conduct or Twitch's Terms of Service your account may be suspended. To appeal a channel suspension you will need to contact us via this form. Channel suspensions can not be dealt with over Twitter or any other mediums.
Channel Chat Suspensions
Channel owners and their appointed channel moderators are free to suspend users from their channel at any time for any reason. If you have been suspended from a channel, you will need to contact the channel owner or an appointed channel moderator to ask for reinstatement.
If you are banned from a chat channel please do not evade that ban by using another account or creating another one. This is grounds for suspension from our services and can be seen as harassment.
DMCA Suspensions
For more on our DMCA (ie, copyright) guidelines, please go here. DMCA covers music, movies, television, etc.
DMCA violations may result in very severe actions, including indefinite suspension.