ShareKick, a popular online streaming platform, has recently introduced a new feature that allows users to turn off gambling streams. This feature is aimed at users who may be struggling with gambling addiction or who simply do not want to be exposed to gambling content.
Responsibility or Censorship?
The new feature is part of Kick's ongoing efforts to promote responsible gambling and ensure that users have a safe and enjoyable experience on the platform but, of course, not everybody will agree.The new feature is a significant shift for platforms that show online gambling following the exodus from Twitch as it shows a commitment to promoting responsible gambling and protecting vulnerable users.
Ed Craven, co-founder of Kick and Stake.com, tweeted that several changes had been made including what he described as “unnecessary exposure to gambling related content.”
“We're rolling out some extra view count protection on @KickStreaming. This should help combat view count manipulation. It will also help solve some issues surrounding follow/chat bots. Rest assured the community is still growing & we're staying committed to ensuring we maintain a fair landscape for creators.
“The main problem being solved here is in relation to "Tabbing" & the abuse that came with that. Some further protections have also been included.
“Alongside this update, we've also removed some unnecessary exposure to gambling related content throughout our recommended formulas. We'll also be adding the ability to toggle off all gambling related streams, amongst other certain categories viewers wish to not be exposed to. Viewer experience is equally as important to us as creators.”
With this new feature, users can choose to turn off all gambling streams or select specific streams to block. This level of control is important for users who may be struggling with gambling addiction or who simply do not want to be exposed to gambling content. The feature is easy to use and allows users to take control of their viewing experience.
Gambling streams have divided the streaming community since Twitch decided to go in hard and outright ban many forms of content from specific sites. Luckily online poker escaped scot free.
Kick became the place to be after Twitch evicted most of its gamblers and it looks to be doing its best to attract even those who were not affected by the rules change.
95% of subscription revenue goes straight into the streamer’s pockets, compared to 50% at Twitch and 70% at Google-owned YouTube. It is now even paying an hourly rate to streamers depending on certain criteria.
