Sometimes, it’s hard to know what to make of Twitch. On the one hand, the streaming platform is experiencingpeak viewership, but on the other, the company isreportedly laying staff off. Still, it’s business as usual, and it looks as though the Amazon-owned company now wants a slice of that social media pie.
In a recentblog post, Twitch announced the introduction of stories to its app. Those who regularly use Facebook or Instagram will already be familiar with this feature. Essentially, Twitch has “made it easier for you to reach your community directly on Twitch, through short posts that expire in 48 hours.”
We’re rolling out stories on Twitch to help you stay connected with your community💜 Update the Twitch app to see stories on the Following page💜 Stories last 48 hours💜 Eligible streamers will get access to create stories throughout the weekWho is eligible? Read more 🧵👇pic.twitter.com/MO9sD6p5a2
This appears to be a work-in-progress and will have “more features in the coming months”. And given Twitch’s reputation for being a hotbed of hatred and general toxic behavior, safety measures are factored into stories “in a way that fosters a safe space for you and your community.”
Not available for everyone yet, though
However, the post does make it clear that this feature is not rolling out to all users just yet. For now, they’re “currently limited to Partners & Affiliates who have had at least one stream in the last 30 days.”
There are plans to make it available to eligible users by the end of the week. However, streamers will need to “meet the minimum eligibility requirements.” There’s always a catch with these things.
Whatever you think about the new feature, it seems Twitch is looking to keep its head above water by rolling out additional bells and whistles. It could be a neat way for content creators to stay in touch when not live. Equally, it could be another headache in an era already swamped by social media.
