Twitch is a platform full of content creators from different backgrounds, with different personalities and completely different content. This means that people of all ages can find a stream that’s appropriate for them.
That being said, only those above the age of 13 can legally sign up and use Twitch services. Still, 13 is pretty young and Twitch take their platform seriously in terms of prevent those who are under 18 to access content they shouldn’t.
Ultimately, it’s the content creator who needs to stay on top of this, on of the ways is the mature content setting to let the system and users know what to expect.
But how does it work and how do you turn Mature Content filter on and off?
How To Set Twitch Stream To Mature
This setting has moved a lot in the past, but currently it sits inside creator dashboard > stream > Mature content.
To get there from Twitch.tv homepage,
- Click on your profile image on the top right
- Click on “Creator dashboard”
- Click on the burger menu on the top left
- Expand the settings option
- Click on stream
- Check the box next to mature content
The exact menu is shown below
What does setting your stream to mature content do?
The first thing it does it provide a warning for users who want to watch your stream that it is intended for mature audiences. The warning looks like the below:
Secondly, it may limit your stream appearing for users who are under the age of 18. 22% of Twitch users worldwide are aged 16-24
, the number which will be under 18 will be much smaller.
Perhaps most importantly, if your content does have mature themes then it will protect you as the creator from being flagged and reported and it protects young users from being exposed to it. Two things Twitch.tv cares a lot about.
If you’ve set the mature content setting on you’ve done all you can – if younger audiences find your channel they can still watch it, but at least they’ve been warned and you won’t be in violation of Twitch ToS.
What counts as mature content?
This is a grey area and one content creators need to read between the lines with. Playing mature rated games, swearing on stream, discussing other topics which are rated mature and partial nudity (think hot tub streamers) are what the filter is for.
However, there are some mature content which is forbidden on Twitch regardless of the setting being turned on which Twitch make clear in the tooltip. They are:
- Sexual activity
- Nudity
- Threats
- Extreme violence
- Dangerous acts (actions which could lead to throwing up is one example)
- Drug taking/drug discussions
Basically, if you make content that you would feel uncomfortable doing in front of a young audience, turn the filter on or tone down the mature content.
Will the mature content filter kill my channel?
It is unlikely that the mature content filter would “kill” a channel, as the vast majority of users are over 18 and the option to watch for them is still there. The most likely reason mature content will kill a channel is if its not to people’s tastes and it is mature/vulgar for its own sake.
Some of the biggest games in the world have mature rating which would need to be covered by this setting such as Grand Theft Auto V, Call of Duty, Resident Evil, Elden Ring and so forth. You’d need to put the filter on to play these games even if you yourself are not creating mature content through your words and discussions.
Secondly, mature content also relates to your chat, if your community is mature then you need to set the mature content filter on, otherwise you will need heavy moderation and an up to date banned words list.
There are people out there who prefer mature streamers and there are people who do not, as long as its in good taste then it could in fact help streamers out rather than hinder them. When you work to grow your channel it’s always best to be yourself – if that’s with profanities and mature discussions then so be it.
The biggest streamers on the entire platform are mature content creators to begin with.
How to turn off mature content setting on Twitch
Once you’ve logged in, head to the top right profile circle, then Creator dashboard > stream > Mature content.
To get there from Twitch.tv homepage,
- Click on your profile image on the top right
- Click on “Creator dashboard”
- Click on the burger menu on the top left
- Expand the settings option
- Click on stream
- Uncheck the box next to mature content (if it was checked).
