How Amazon Twitch includes cannabis in the new policy

By Nina Zdinjak

Twitch, Amazon’s popular streaming site, announced new updates to its username policy to put an end to inappropriate names, stressing that users with handles indicating cannabis will be allowed.

“We want to make Twitch a place where everyone feels right at home,” the company said, adding that “curbing hateful behavior and harassment is an integral part of making Twitch a safe and fun place to be.” where you can spend your time.”

Photo by Fredrick Tendong via Unsplash

The move appears to be part of Amazon’s support for cannabis legalization, which was released last June, when the company announced it would stop testing for workplace cannabis use in most positions. Amazon has been Twitch’s parent company since it acquired it for $970 million in 2014, while Alphabet has also been in talks.

New policy highlights

Twitch has updated policies to clarify that usernames and names created on its platform cannot contain:

• Violations of the law, including terrorism and child exploitation
• violence and threat
• Hateful Behavior
• Harassment and Sexual Harassment
• Unauthorized disclosure of private information
• impersonation
• Glorification of natural or violent tragedies
• self-destructive behavior
• References to recreational drugs, hard drugs, and substance abuse, excluding alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana
• References to sexual acts, genitals, or sexual fluids

Usernames are important

“They are your text avatar in chat and a crucial element of channel branding for creators. Usernames are searchable and visible across the site. Given their use across Twitch channels, we believe they must be held to a universal and higher standard than other places where people express themselves – such as chat,” the company stressed.

Twitch gives existing members the opportunity to adapt to the new standards.

“We want Twitch to be secure. We want Twitch to be inclusive. We want Twitch to be a place of positivity,” the company concluded.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.