The controversy known as the "hot tub meta" on Twitch started gaining traction a couple of weeks ago when screenshots of women in bikinis during livestreams surfaced online, with many users taunting Twitch for having "devolved" as a platform. The controversy has struck split opinions among many big names in the streaming community.
The issue with this is, according to many, is that Twitch doesn't allow sexually explicit content, and content creators are using a loophole in Twitch's rules to make money, which is partially how Amouranth rose to such popularity, and many people aren't okay with it. Others take issue with this type of content being posted on what was "originally" a gaming website, but the controversy stretches far deeper.
The History of the Hot Tub Meta on Twitch
Hot tub livestreams started a while back in 2019 when Twitch updated its guidelines. While previously, streamers were not allowed to wear swimwear on Twitch, this rule was changed to fit contextual settings, such as if a streamer were doing an IRL session at a beach. Some content creators such as Kiaraakitty, took advantage of this early on, with it turning into quite the hustle for some streamers. But more recently, some Twitch viewers grew disgruntled as these hot tub streams began taking over Twitch's front page.
Viewers' Attitudes Towards Female Livestreamers
Part of why this controversy sees such heat is likely because it's centered around female streamers. Female Twitch streamers deal with issues that their male peers often don't, usually relating to the way they dress or asking about their relationship status. One example is Negaoryx, who shut down a sexist user while livestreaming Dead by Daylight. The viewer had asked about the color of her underwear in her chat, and Negaoryx promptly explained why this isn't appropriate without missing a beat in-game.
Telling women "to wear" or "not to wear" certain clothing during streams is an all-too-familiar reality for female Twitch streamers, such as Alinity and Pokimane, who are regularly told they "use their looks" to get viewers. One form of backlash that came from viewers upset by hot tub streams was the idea that this takes away viewers from other content creators. Another take calls out this type of content for being irrelevant for a gaming site, but this argument ignores other Twitch content like art, DIY builds, or music jam sessions.
Of course, some women, such as Valkyrae, responded to disgruntled folks: "Why are you so angry?" She took the "just ignore it" stance, saying that, if it's not hurting anyone, it shouldn't be a big deal. On the other hand, some female streamers worry that it could lead to a higher expectation for revealing clothing from other female streamers, which is already an issue on the site. But Pokimane believes the spotlight should be turned away from women who choose to host hot tub livestreams and onto viewers with these distorted perspectives of what women should or shouldn't do. Notably, she also calls out another problem with this loophole.
Twitch's Inconsistency With Guidelines
This isn't the first time that Twitch has been called out for inconsistencies and double standards in its guidelines, but the hot tub meta is an excellent example of what can happen because of it. In this instance, viewers simply want Twitch to take a stance on the subject. "Is sexual content allowed on Twitch, or isn't it?" Many Twitter users have asked in the past weeks, including Pokimane, who believes Twitch needs to adopt methods to determine what is considered suggestive.
To many of those upset by the hot tub meta, what's most concerning is the access that underage viewers have to this type of content. Of course, Twitch has age guidelines, and streamers can flag their sessions as "mature," but that doesn't make the explicit content inaccessible to minors. Some minors have even reported being recommended this content simply because they like the Just Chatting tag and watching female streamers, exposing a blatant issue with Twitch's current policies and algorithms, if true.
What is Twitch Doing About the Hot Tub Meta?
Twitch responded to the hot tub meta, saying that it's "closely monitoring" the situation. The company also offered up a simple solution for Twitch viewers that wish not to see sexually suggestive content: use the "Not Interested" button. Another wave of backlash was fired at Twitch, however, when some users pointed out that promoted hot tub streams are missing this button. Otherwise, Twitch has yet to take further action on the issue.