May 31, 2024 at 07:16PM
Twitch has reportedly dissolved its Safety Advisory Council and intends to replace it with chosen “ambassadors.” The council, formed in 2020, aimed to enhance Twitch’s approach to trust and safety. The move comes as Twitch seeks to manage costs, but it remains to be seen how this change will impact the platform’s trust and safety efforts.
From the meeting notes, it is clear that Twitch has dismantled its Safety Advisory Council and plans to replace it with chosen “ambassadors.” The council was formed in 2020 to enhance Twitch’s approach to trust and safety and was made up of nine individuals, including industry experts and Twitch partners and moderators.
Twitch has stated that the decision to introduce Twitch ambassadors as a “refresh” does not confirm or deny that the council’s members will have their contracts cut. It is also not clear if the Twitch ambassadors have expertise in online safety policy. However, Twitch has emphasized the importance of working with their ambassadors, who are active on Twitch and have firsthand knowledge of safety work.
The decision to disband the safety council may be a cost-cutting measure, given Twitch’s history of layoffs and cost-trimming efforts. There is a concern that this decision could have negative consequences, similar to Twitter’s experience after dismantling its Trust and Safety Council and internal teams, resulting in chaos and the need to hire additional content moderators.
Overall, the shift from the Safety Advisory Council to Twitch ambassadors raises questions about the future effectiveness of Twitch’s efforts in trust and safety and may have wider implications for the platform’s moderation and safety practices.