Twitch streamers band together for #ADayOffTwitch to protest ongoing chat hate raids
Twitch streamers are organizing an online protest hoping that it will lead to action against the ever-growing problem of hate raids targeting marginalized content creators.
Coming together under the #ADayOffTwitch hashtag, streamers from around the world plan to put a dent into streaming and viewership numbers on the platform next week, on September 1. Organized by content creators Lucia Everblack, Shineypen, and Rek It Raven, the protest intends to lower ad revenue for a day to send Twitch a message that content creators and streamers want the platform to take this issue seriously.
These raids aren’t simple trolls looking to get a rise out of folks, either. They are swarms of bots posting everything from homophobic, transphobic, racist, and full-on Nazi imagery in chat rooms to try and push marginalized creators off the platform.
We are continuing the fight.
Shout out to @LuciaEverblack and @ShineyPen for helping me with this!#ADayOffTwitch
September 1st, don't go live. pic.twitter.com/dU1ycC9YtM— ʀᴇᴋ ɪᴛ, ʀᴀᴠᴇɴ! (@RekItRaven) August 20, 2021
Many other streamers are already chiming in, voicing support for and agreeing to take part in the protest.
Recently I’ve RT in support of #ADayOffTwitch But here’s a thread that explains how it’s counterproductive.
Read it. See both sides. Whatever you choose to do on 9/1 make sure it specifically benefits marginalized creators. Whether you’re On Twitch or Off you can be that change. https://t.co/wWU60AVqcG
— Ky | She/Her (@DefinedByKy) August 23, 2021
there is not a single stream that goes by without fielding homophobic messages & hate raids. Last month i was hate raided 10+ times amounting to over 16 THOUSAND fake followers. It should not be a part of my job to be harassed
i will be taking #adayofftwitch on september 1st https://t.co/9Ht3pDJGN3
— NEON NO (@Neon_woof) August 22, 2021
Same deal, pickles! No twitch on Wednesday! #ADayOffTwitch https://t.co/NQcwb9PPwc
— Lord Travis McElroy, The Internet's Best Friend (@travismcelroy) August 21, 2021
If you're able, please show solidarity towards marginalized creators who are experiencing extreme online harassment due to the on-going hate raids on Twitch.
This includes refraining from streaming September 1st or sharing the post in QRT.#ADayOffTwitch #TwitchDoBetter https://t.co/4Zt1NmLkpV
— Kagenaga 【 Vtuber 】 (@kagenaga_LN) August 21, 2021
Twitch itself responded to these mounting concerns over harassment and hate speech earlier this month, but the problem persists all the same. Hopefully, the calls for change from #ADayOffTwitch lead to lasting change.
We’ve seen a lot of conversation about botting, hate raids, and other forms of harassment targeting marginalized creators. You’re asking us to do better, and we know we need to do more to address these issues. That includes an open and ongoing dialogue about creator safety.
— Twitch (@Twitch) August 11, 2021