Renowned content creator, MrBeast, has taken a bold step in support of Twitch streamers and their protests against the platform's new advertising guidelines. In a show of solidarity, MrBeast has hinted at the possibility of streaming on Twitch's rival platform, Kick. As Twitch faces backlash from its user base over the proposed changes, MrBeast's involvement injects a powerful surge of support into the fight for streamer rights.
Twitch's planned policy changes regarding third-party advertisements have sparked outrage among streamers and viewers alike. The changes, set to be implemented in early July 2023, would impose restrictions on the types of overlays streamers could use to promote charitable causes or branded products. Burned-in ads were to be banned, and the size of ad overlays would be limited to a mere 3% of the screen space, leaving streamers with very little room for creativity. These policy modifications have received overwhelmingly negative feedback, including strong opposition from prominent streamers like Asmongold, who has called for a Twitch boycott.
MrBeast took to Twitter to voice his disagreement with Twitch's new guidelines. He suggested that instead of limiting creators' earnings, Twitch should focus on helping them earn more. MrBeast even joked that the situation was the most amusing thing he had seen all year, in a now-deleted tweet. Despite not being a Twitch streamer himself, he expressed his willingness to stream on a competitor's platform to stand up for other creators. He also warned that if YouTube were to implement similar measures, it would greatly frustrate him. Additionally, speculation grew when MrBeast followed Twitch's rival, Kick.com, on Twitter, prompting him to joke about conducting a protest stream.
It remains unclear if MrBeast will choose to stream on Kick, but it is important to acknowledge that Twitch has addressed the concerns raised by their new policy. Twitch acknowledged that the language used in the policy was unclear and had unintended consequences. Additionally, the platform stated that it would not impede streamers from obtaining sponsorships and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting streamers in pursuing partnerships to generate income for their channels.
