The recent ban of Twitch streamer Cardboard_Cowboy for streaming his own Lofi music on his alt account is just one example of the growing list of controversies that have plagued the video game streaming giant. As more and more Twitch users jump ship to the competition, the company's reputation is at risk. Initially viewed as a promising YouTube competitor, Twitch is now criticized by many for prioritizing profits over the interests of its users. The departure of many fan-favorite streamers, coupled with the lack of transparency surrounding bans, only adds to the platform's woes. Cardboard_Cowboy's case is a particularly confusing one, as streaming his own licensed music is permitted on every other major platform.
Amidst the comedy-focused streams on Cardboard_Cowboy's main channel and his licensed music on his alt channel, LofiCardboardCowboy, Twitch randomly banned his alternate channel without proper explanation. Despite being a Twitch partner for five years, Cardboard_Cowboy took to Twitter to showcase the inconsistency of Twitch's mission statement, which aims to provide clarity to its users, and the vague email he received regarding his ban. Unfortunately, this year has seen a number of other unjust and unexplained bannings, including Alinity's three-day ban for "twerking," which was reversed after she pointed out more lewd material on the site. Following in the footsteps of other banned stars, Cardboard_Cowboy's voice on Twitter was loud enough to get Twitch to reverse the ban a few days later, but the Amazon-owned company has yet to offer a public apology.
The recent branded content guidelines implemented by Twitch caused a significant blow to its reputation. The guidelines required streamers to limit the amount of screen space for their burned-in advertisements. This move was perceived by many as a self-serving strategy, prioritizing the company's interests over the streamers'. Although Twitch has since reversed its guidelines and apologized, some streamers and viewers have already lost faith in the platform. Cardboard_Cowboy could be one of the many who decide to switch to another streaming platform, such as YouTube or Kick.
