Twitch's Creator Crackdown

Issue #290 | Nov. 14, 2024

If there’s one thing that Kai Cenat’s recent subathon has made clear, it’s that he is the top streamer on the internet right now. Earlier this week, he broke the record for most subs ever on Twitch and was recently nominated for five Streamer Awards, an award show that recognizes the top content creators in the industry. His subathon was more than just another online event, it was a cultural moment that cemented Twitch as a powerful place to build audiences.

But just as more small and mid-level creators are leaning into Twitch, hoping to replicate Cenat’s success, a wave of demonetization has hit the platform. This month, Twitch introduced a new classification label specifically for streams focused on “politics and sensitive social issues.”

The update requires creators to mark content that delves into subjects like civic engagement or civil rights, and restricts ad monetization on those videos. “It’s our version of the Adpocalypse,” said Austin MacNamara, a Twitch streamer in New Orleans who has seen his earnings plummet since the policy change. MacNamara said that he used to make up to $180 per stream, but since the restrictions went into place, he is now making around 50 cents.

Twitch’s decision to institute these monetization restrictions significantly harms creators who discuss anything that could be perceived as political, right at a time when interest in livestreaming is growing. During his subathon, Cenat said that Kick, a controversial competitor to Twitch, offered him $60 million to switch platforms. He prayed to God and ultimately declined the offer.

But if Twitch continues the aggressive crackdowns on up and coming creators, a growing number of creators will be looking elsewhere.

– Taylor Lorenz, Passionfruit Contributor

PLATFORMS

Will President Trump Save TikTok?

The long and confusing road to a potential TikTok ban.

By Lon Harris, Passionfruit Contributor

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Clear Out the Moment Warehouse Before Black Friday

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Shop the Moment Warehouse

IN THE BIZ

Patreon is introducing holiday-themed gifting features and discounts.
Trump is appointing X owner Elon Musk to lead a newly made-up “Department of Government Efficiency.”
Spotify’s CEO teased the company’s long-delayed “super premium” subscription tier.
Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg collaborated with T-Pain on a “Get Low” remix.

PLATFORMS

Spotify Is Making a Major Play for Video Podcasts With the Spotify Partner Program and New Video Features

Spotify is coming for YouTube’s video podcast crown.

By John-Michael Bond, Passionfruit Contributor

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spotify for creators - featured image showcasing the new clip upload feature

TIPS & TRICKS

How Not to Get Demonetized on YouTube

Here’s how to protect your channel from YouTube’s content cops.

By merritt k, Passionfruit Contributor

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JOB BOARD

Meta is looking for an Animator.
LAUNCH is looking for a Video Editor.
Kallaway is looking for a Video Editor.
3Headed Monster is looking for a Social Content Creator.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

For Passionfruit’s “Reactorverse” podcast, a friend of the show, Kristian Harloff, sits down to chat about his decade-plus career working on YouTube for companies and himself. ▶️

Kristian co-founded the Movie Trivia Schmoedown, became a main host for Collider, and navigated a handful of solo endeavors that have led him to his current status as an independent creator. 👀