Twitter: Rod Breslau
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The Word “Simp” Is Now Banned On Twitch Under New Harassment Rules

It seems like every year a new horrible word emerges from the bowels of the Internet and we’re all forced to learn what it means. One of the most recent vocabulary additions to the English language is “simp.”

It started as a way to describe men who are too desperate for the approval of women and then just became a catch-all term for any guy who treated a woman with even a modicum of respect.

On a daily basis, most adults aren’t calling each other simps. On Twitch, it’s a big problem, especially in places where people are streaming video games and other popular subjects for 12-year-olds.

The platform has received a lot of criticism for its inability to rein in harassment on its platforms. Now, the Verge reports that they’ve updated their policies to outlaw words like “simp,” or “incel,” or even “virgin.” If they’re used derogatorily that is.

Consultant Rod Breslau posted about it on Twitter first:

Most people don’t seem to think this move will actually do anything to stop harassment on Twitch, especially because the new rules allow for a lot of exceptions.

“We allow certain words or terms, which might otherwise violate our policy, to be used in an empowering way or as terms of endearment when such intent is clear,” they wrote in their announcement of the policy change. “We also make exceptions for slurs in music—and singing along to music—as long as the song itself is not hateful and the slurs are not combined with other discriminating or denigrating content.”

The responses to Breslau almost perfectly exhibit how deep the issue is because it’s a combination of women saying this won’t do anything to help them and a bunch of people who probably are incel virgins:

https://twitter.com/shbzz/status/1339335199016939521

https://twitter.com/itjustworkslol/status/1339324093729034243

“We will take action against the use of terms like ‘simp,’ ‘incel’ or ‘virgin’ specifically when they are being used to negatively refer to another person’s sexual practices. Using these terms on their own wouldn’t lead to enforcement but we would take action if they were used repeatedly in a harassing manner,” a Twitch spokesperson told The Verge.

If any of those words were directed at women, this might actually help!

More 2020:

Aimeé Lutkin