New Twitch feature prevents banned users from viewing streams

Users of Twitch are now getting access to the platform’s new creator-centric feature. This feature prevents users that creators have placed a ban on from viewing their stream. Lots of creators around the world will find this new feature very helpful, as they’ll put it to use and keep unwanted users away from their content.

For a long time now, Twitch creators have been at liberty to ban other users from their platforms. However, these bans were only skin deep, as they didn’t prevent banned users from watching the creator’s streams. This became a big problem for some creators, as it only prevents the banned users from commenting under the creator’s streams.

So the ban only kept unwanted users mute, but it let them remain part of the viewing audience. With this liberty, most users under creator bans can still go about constituting a nuisance for the creator and their fans. Twitch is now offering a fix to this issue and giving creators the ability to ban users not only from commenting but also from viewing streams.

This Twitch creator-centric feature is fixing a problem but leaves a loophole

For a while, creators on Twitch have been enduring the fact that users can still watch their streams. The ban only impacts the user’s ability to leave a comment under the stream. Twitch took note of this issue and with a new update, the platform is now giving creators the ability to block users they ban from viewing their streams.

Creators can choose to ban users if they break some of the personal rules that guide their audience during streams. Among those that some creators ban are cyberbullies that use the comment section to attack others or the streamers themselves. By banning them and taking away their ability to comment, these streamers can protect themselves and their audience.

But knowing that these banned users can still watch streams is quite concerning, and the new update fixes that. From the moderation settings in the Creator Dashboard, creators can block banned users from viewing streams. Turning on this setting will take away the ability for users the creator bans to view streams, in a way.

While this update is impressive, it leaves a loophole for the users under a ban. To view the creator’s streams, these banned users can log out of their accounts and view the streams. They still won’t be able to comment, since that action requires an account.

Possibly in the coming months, Twitch will fix this loophole, helping creators get rid of pests once and for all. If you are a creator on Twitch, you either already have this update or are preparing to get this feature. The rollout process might take some time to get to all creators, but once available it’ll help in the fight against online harassment.