Summary
Twitchhas issued an apology for its new “Drop Ins” feature, which unintentionally activated streamers' cameras, including those of Vtubers, without their consent. WhileTwitch, as the leading streaming platform, frequently introduces new features and updates to its community guidelines, not every change resonates well with users.
Amazon-owned streaming platform Twitch introduced Drop Ins on August 19, a feature designed to simplify collaborations by allowing streamers to send requests to join another broadcaster’s channel. This feature lets streamers see if those on their Followed Channels list are available and, if so, send a private notification to request a collaboration. Once accepted, they can immediately start streaming together with audio and video integration through OBS or similar software. However, the feature was activated by default for all users without a full opt-out option. This default activation led to significant criticism from prominent streamers, who raised concerns aboutpotential harassment and botting related to Twitch’s Drop Ins.
It looks like Twitch has faced additional issues with this feature as well, prompting adjustments to Drop Ins. The company has announced that, based on community feedback, Drop Ins will now start with the camera disabled, even if it was previously enabled. Twitch issued a public apology for the oversight, acknowledging that this change is intended to address privacy concerns and prevent unintended disruptions. They specifically apologized to users,particularly Vtubers on Twitch, who may have experienced accidental camera activation and unintended face reveals due to the initial default settings.
Public Response to Twitch’s Changes to Drop Ins Feature
While these changes demonstrateTwitch’s commitment to improving the platform, responses to the announcement have been mixed. Some users expressed frustration, feeling that such a fundamental aspect of the platform should have been better considered from the start, especially given the presence of Vtubers. Others were concerned that the fix did not fully address their concerns, with calls for an opt-out button or complete removal of the feature.
While it remains uncertain whether Twitch will further modify its controversial Drop Ins feature, it’s notable that the CEO recently addressed calls for a rewind function. He explained that implementing such a feature is complex due to Twitch’s current streaming infrastructure and would be both costly and require a significant system overhaul. However, he suggested that a limited rewind feature might be feasible. Additionally,several prominent streamers have migrated to Twitch rival Kickover the past year, highlighting the increasing competition and the need for Twitch to continually evolve and improve.
