Since its conception, Kick has been a safe haven for some of the most divisive creators, including Adin Ross, xQc, and Trainwrecktv. All of these creators have been in trouble with Twitch in the past for a variety of reasons, including discriminatory language and the promotion of gambling.
Kick offers a special type of freedom for creators who aspire to be “edgy,” and in recent months, has become a platform of right-wing ideology.
But things may be about to change drastically on the app, with creator economy reporter Zach Bussey highlighting the quiet changes Kick made to its Community Guidelines.
In the original Community Guidelines, Kick emphasizes the importance of “constructive dialogue” as opposed to “knee-jerk reactions often associated with ‘cancel culture.’
The platform said it was against “blanket punitive measures” and preferred a “reformative approach that involves working collaboratively with our creators.”
However, in the updated version, Kick seems to have established certain rules. It encourages users and moderators to “stay within the boundaries outlined in our Terms of Service.”
“Violations of these Community Guidelines are, by default, a violation of our Terms of Service,” Kick adds, “and this can lead to streaming potentially harmful content.”
Still, Kick maintains in these updated terms that if viewers come across streams that don’t align with their personal values, they should click away.
So, has Kick really gone “woke”? That may be so, but it might be too little too late to appeal beyond its current audience base. And arguably, making these bold changes to its Community Guidelines might risk alienating the edge lords they have left.
