Hot Tub Streamers Defended

Streaming and Gaming community of Twitch has divided into two parts with the recent and new meta on Twitch called ‘Hot Tub’ streams. Some find it unsuitable for Twitch and some being appreciative of it. Youtuber and Former Twitch Streamer Valkyrae made a comment about it and defended the hot tub content creators.

Recently, Hot tub streams are all over Twitch. It is a group of streamers who sit around pools/tubs, wearing swimwear and streaming in the ‘Just Chatting’ category. Users of the platform find and consider this to be “suggestive content” and do not relate or not go in line with Twitch’s culture of video game streaming. The viewership of these hot tub streamers has skyrocketed and that’s also why it earned the title of ‘Twitch Meta’.

Though the streaming platform has certain guidelines in order for them to prevent oversexualizing their content, there are still certain ways that it can be exploited. The new updated terms of service of Twitch still allows hot tub streamers on their platform to receive different reactions and mixed feelings from the users of it and even popular streamers.

Valkyrae asked some people in the gaming community why they are so angry about it and said that hot tub streams work for a reason.She also pinpoint the fact that it is free and that they are not required to donate or subscribe to it. She then asked and said, “Isn’t this a good thing?” and said that, it is what men want to see for free.

Her statement points out that the new meta was mainly because it is being liked by many, especially men and it is them who caused it to grow in the first place. She also referenced how a business can’t grow without customers (referring to hot tub streamers, viewers) and also said that the only reason it even existed was because of those who make up the audience for such content creators.

Different online personalities have a say to the new meta. Many believe that it is a good thing but mostly think that it is not knowing that most of the users of the streaming platform are mostly minors and that’s why some think it is not right for Twitch to stream and allow to continue ‘Hot Tub’ streams.