Zach Bussey
Creator and live‑streaming industry reporter; Twitch/YouTube policy, events, opportunities for streamers/creators.
Inside the StreamElements Mystery: Facts, Gaps, and Future
What's going on with StreamElements? Let's go through the details we know, what we don't, some tertiary details that add context, and what may come next. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpXbRWDPAhc
Monetization Tools Now Open to All Streamers Worldwide
Channel Points, Emotes, Subs, Bits, and Badges are now available to onboarded streamers worldwide. This was previously limited to certain regions.
From Twitch to $7.5M: Maya Higa’s Global Impact
Maya Higa's TED Talk is now available. The 10-minute talk covers how she got started on Twitch, has raised over $7.5M, reached millions globally, and how @alveussanctuary is the wildlife sanctuary you can visit from anywhere.
Twitch IRL Takeover Offers Exclusive Chat Badge This Week
Twitch is running an IRL takeover of the site from May 11 to May 17. You can unlock an IRL chat badge by watching IRL takeover content.
Brands' Secret AI Use Tops Social Media Sins
Brands hiding their use of AI in social posts is their biggest social media sin, according to a Sprout Social survey. 28% Unlabeled AI-Generated Content 23% Engagement Bait 14% Political Commentary 13% Automated DMs 12% Posting Too Much
Twitch CEO: Embeds Account for Just 0.37% View Hours
Twitch CEO Dan Clancy says embeds are not a primary source of viewbots on Twitch. According to him, only 0.37% of Watch Hours come from people watching on embedded players.
Twitch Trials Personalized Shoutouts for Subscriber Milestones
Twitch is testing a way to send personalized notes to your viewers as Streamer Shouts. This will include things like Subscriber Anniversaries, A Returning Viewer, Watch Streaks, and more. It's being tested with a small group of streamers.
Viewbot Crackdown Unlikely to Hurt Creators, Says Streamer
was streaming when the viewbotting update was announced - but have seen a lot of pessimism and concern that this will harm creators (by using viewbots as a weapon). But I don't see that being likely. This is how I...
Twitch Bans Off‑platform Bit Use, Tightens Enforcement
Twitch has updated the Bits Acceptable Use policy for the first time since 2018. Changes: - Bits can ONLY be used for things on Twitch. (A ban on anything off-platform or of monetary value.) - Much stricter enforcement, including a new "forfeiture clause". -...
Webby Livestream Creator Award Misattributed to Bieber
The Webby Award for Best Livestream Creator went to... Justin Bieber. However, Bieber didn't actually win as he's nowhere on the list of credits. Instead, Twitch and Stagepilot received the award.
Pluto Quits Twitch, Joining Recent Staff Exodus
Pluto has announced he's leaving Twitch. Pluto is one of the more well-known staffers, especially among top streamers. His departure is a loss to the community and follows other long-term staffers, such as Growl and KawaiiGuy, who left in the past...
Twitch Lifts Ban, Now Permits All Video Services
Twitch has changed its mind and will now allow all random video services, such as Omoggle, to be streamed on the platform. They officially removed the rule from the Community Guidelines documentation 30 minutes ago.
Twitch Cracks Down on Omoggle Face‑maxxing Streams
Twitch is actively issuing warnings to streamers who are doing Omoggle on stream. Omoggle is a live 1v1 arena-style face-looksmaxxing service, similar to Ome/Monkey app, in that it randomly pairs you with a stranger. Example of Quin69 being mogged:
Twitch Scraps Low‑usage Monthly Recap Feature
Twitch has shut down the Monthly Recap feature due to low usage. Monthly recaps were a channel-level subscriber perk that showed you your time watched, top emotes used, chats sent, and other data from that stream in the previous month.
YouTube's Mobile Test May Crop Your Thumbnails
YouTube is running an experiment on mobile devices that changes thumbnail and video sizes in the home feed. This may result in your thumbnails appearing cropped.
Twitch Trials Weekly Badge that Boosts Watch Rewards
Twitch is testing a new Weekly Rewards Badge. The badge upgrades the more you watch each week, and rewards additional channel points.
Twitch Drops clips.twitch.tv, Shows Username on New Clips
Twitch appears to have retired the clips.twitch.tv/ linking system. New clips now feature the creator's username. Old clips are automatically redirected to this system.
YouTube Trials AI-Powered Conversational Search for US Premium Users
YouTube is testing a conversational search powered by AI. This experiment is available for Premium members in the USA.
Twitch Bans Russian CS2 Streamers Linked to Drone Hub
Twitch indefinitely suspended a dozen+ Russian Partners streaming a CS2 esports competition from Russia's Alabuga Polytech. Alabuga Polytech has been widely reported as a Shahad drone-building facility and has been actively recruiting young people.
Xbox Game Pass Starter Bundles Discord Nitro and 50+ Games
Xbox Game Pass "Starter Edition" will come bundled with a Discord Nitro subscription, include 50+ games, and other perks. via @discordpreviews
X to Delete All Communities on May 6 Due to Declining Usage.
Twitter X is shutting down and deleting all Communities on May 6, due to declining usage and a push towards XChat.
YouTube Replaces Clips with Timestamp Sharing, Adds Shorts Tool
YouTube is shutting down the Clips feature and replacing it with "Share at Timestamp," as it is now available on mobile. Later this year, they'll launch a Video Clips to Shorts and Auto-Suggestions feature to help creators share their videos' best...
Streamer Awards 2026 Set Just Before TwitchCon
The Streamer Awards 2026 will be on November 12, 2026. That's one day before Twitchcon San Diego 2026.
Creator Platforms Converge Into One-Size-Fits-All Toolkits
Axios reports that Creator Platforms are in their copycat era, with most players effectively offering the same one-stop toolkit for creators. Are you using any of these platforms as part of your creator business?
Twitch Launches Fast‑track Partner Program for Cross‑platform Creators
Twitch has a new recruitment page that fast-tracks creators to get Twitch Partner. Creators with followings on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, or Snapchat are asked to enter their follower counts and usernames. Twitch will then reach out if you are a...
Twitch Sponsorships Still Underpay Creators versus Competitors
Twitch Sponsorships continue to underpay creators... so sad, after the very fair Minecraft campaign. Twitch: Max $78.72 (Creators usually hit 40-60% of payout.) Sponsorship Platform: $80 Guaranteed (+).
Twitch Streamlines Prime Subscriptions to Two Clicks
Twitch is testing an easier way to Subscribe with Prime. On click, it will confirm you want to use your Prime. This effectively reduces the flow to two clicks.
Twitch TOS Now Lets Them Dissect and Monetize Your Content
Twitch just updated the Terms of Service. IANAL, but my analysis: Section 4: Covers Authorized Users (3rd parties, Business Manager role, etc.) Section 8: Pieces apart your content (video, audio, images, text) to allow Twitch to provide and improve the platform.
YouTube Gifts Now Available on Horizontal Mobile Streams
YouTube is expanding Gifts to include Horizontal streams (on mobile devices). It had previously been limited to vertical streams on mobile.
Twitch Adds Advertiser Data‑sharing Clause to Streamer Agreement
Twitch has updated the Monetized Streamer Agreement to include new language on how it shares user data with Advertisers.
Discord Introduces Full‑Screen Hero Ads and Instant Play Quests
Discord is working on two new ad formats. 🖥️ Hero Ads: A full-screen takeover format. 🎮 Instant Play Quests: Stream/Play within Discord.
TikTok Live Viewership Plummets 12% as Twitch Gains
TikTok lost nearly 12% of its live viewership in Q1 of 2026! Twitch +4.46% Kick +1.79% YouTube -0.24% TikTok -11.92% Stats via StreamsCharts
YouTube Tests Auto-Speed to Save Viewers' Time
YouTube is testing a feature called Auto-Speed that automatically adjusts video playback rates to save time without losing comprehension. It's exclusive to Premium subscribers until April 27.
Twitch‑Minecraft Sponsorship Opens to Partners and Affiliates
Twitch and Minecraft are teaming up for a major campaign. Twitch Partners and Affiliates can access a Minecraft Sponsorship (the first time Affiliates are eligible). Partner offers are good (~$1+/CCV/Hour). Affiliate offers are okay. > https://dashboard.twitch.tv/monetization/sponsorships
Twitchcon Cuts Featured Creators From Rotterdam 2026
Twitchcon has just removed the Featured Creators section from the Rotterdam 2026 page. As such, I deleted the tweet below.
Twitch Tests New “Gift Turbo” Button on Usercards
Twitch is running an experiment where they add a "Gift Turbo" button to a persons usercard.
Twitch Earns Innovation Nod for Athlete‑musician Streaming Strategy
Twitch has been picked by Fast Company as one of the most innovative companies of 2026. Why? "For letting athletes and musicians in on the streaming action," I'm not quite sure how a recruitment strategy is innovative... but maybe it's better than just...
Meta and Google Ordered to Pay $3M for Child Addiction
Instagram and YouTube were found liable by a jury for their product design that damaged the mental health of a child who became addicted to the platforms. Meta and Google must pay $3M, in what is the first of thousands of...
Twitchcon Enforces Strict Streaming Rules, Suspensions for Violations
Twitchcon is introducing stricter rules for streaming at the convention, including: - Keeping Paths Clear - No Streaming Areas - Film Permission-Based Lanyards Violations will result in temporary streaming suspensions during Twitchcon.
Trovo to End Livestreaming, Shift Focus to Gaming
Trovo is shutting down its livestreaming service on June 30, 2026. It will instead focus on its gaming business.
Threads to Publicly Show 10K+ View Counts, Optional
Threads will soon publicly display profile level recent view counts for accounts with 10K+ views in the last 30 days. Creators will be able to turn it off. via @lindseygamble_