Twitch streamers say the platform’s new identity tags have improved their experience. After adding the ability for streamers to identify themselves via a variety of tags like “Black,” “transgender,” and “autistic,” several Twitch users say the tags have helped bring visibility to the diverse communities that make up the platform. While many were initially worried the tags would lead to harassment, two months after becoming available streamers note they have increased minority discoverability and demonstrate how one’s identity is tied very closely to the content they create. Veronica Ripley (Nikatine) was an early supporter of Twitch adding a “trans” tag and says that 61% of people who find her through tags on Twitch do so through the “transgender” tag. YPulse’s Gender Blur trend data shows that 58% of Gen Z and Millennials agree people should ask what pronouns a person prefers before addressing them, and more social media platforms have started adopting features that bring visibility to users’ diverse identities. (BuzzFeed News)
