Streamers Urge Others to Join #TWITCHBLACKOUT Boycott
#TWITCHBLACKOUT is trending on Twitter, as streamers urge others to withhold from streaming and viewing broadcasts for the entirety of Wednesday, June 24. This call to action was prompted by a recent slew of sexual abuse allegations against Twitch streamers and is an act of solidarity for the alleged victims of said abuse.
Those involved with #TWITCHBLACKOUT hope to get the attention of Twitch CEO Emmett Shear, in an effort to spark more action against members accused of sexual misconduct.
The Twitch community is divided on the blackout movement, with some saying they will still be using the platform today to spread awareness, while others choosing not to be part of #TWITCHBLACKOUT for financial reasons.
This news comes just days after the surprise demise of streaming platform Mixer, and several streamers careers are already in upheaval.
The movement has been organised to shine a light on the recent and overwhelming number of accusations of sexual abuse, harassment and misconduct that have been revealed by the victims themselves on Twitter and other social media websites.
The call to Twitch CEO Emmett Shear to do more has promoted a response from Twitch already, in the form of a statement on Twitter.
We take accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct extremely seriously. We are actively looking into the accounts concerning streamers affiliated with Twitch and will work with law enforcement where applicable.
Some streamers and viewers aren't happy with this statement, and urge the #TWITCHBLACKOUT boycott to go ahead.
Update: 25/06/2020
Twitch has responded to the #TWITCHBLACKOUT movement with a statement titled "An Update To Our Community'.
We are reviewing each case that has come to light as quickly as possible, while ensuring appropriate due diligence as we assess these serious allegations.
The full statement can be read here.
Images via Twitch
