Twitch CEO faces backlash over controversial new app features

Dan Clancy, CEO of Twitch, presented new features of the platform's mobile version in a live broadcast. Viewers laughed at his channel's controversial content.

Twitch CEO Dan Clancy revealed a new app feature resembling TikTok. At the same time, he became the subject of ridicule for having a channel filled with attractive and liberated streamers, which was evident during the live presentation.

60-year-old Dan Clancy showcased the new app capabilities in an interview with a Twitch streamer on the "NateGentile7" channel. He explained that the platform he manages is working to ensure user experiences are as optimized as possible. This meant modifying the mobile app to work similarly to TikTok or Instagram.

The new version of Twitch allows you to scroll through live streams and clips in the same way as on TikTok. The difference is the horizontal video format. Streamers also can post stories in the same way as on Instagram. When Clancy showed the test version of the Twitch mobile app on his phone, viewers immediately realized that his channel—especially the clips and stories—was filled with "hot tub streamers." This term describes women who engage the audience by showcasing their physical attributes.

The Twitch chat was filled with jokes about Clancy's channel, with a lot of "jajaja" (Spanish for hahaha) from Nate's Spanish-speaking audience. A post on the LivestreamFail subreddit discussing the clip was brutal in its jokes. One commenter quipped, "So that's why they don't get permabans."

The official Twitch policy states that users are prohibited from broadcasting, uploading, soliciting, promoting, offering, and linking to pornographic content. However, some creators balance the line between erotic content and content suitable only for the blue platform. This latter platform was frequently referenced in the comments about Clancy's channel content.