Twitch Includes 'Incel' and 'Simp' As Banned Insults in Harassment Policy

Livestreaming service Twitch is banning terms such as "simp," "incel" and "virgin" when used as insults.

Under the online gaming platform's updated policy on hateful conduct and harassment, the use of these epithets in a negative way to target someone will be prohibited for livestreamers and users leaving comments in the chat section.

As well as the actual words, Twitch users will not be able to send emotes—an icon or emoji that people post in the chat section to react to a livestream—which are meant to represent terms such as virgin.

Twitch chief operating officer Sara Clemens announced the move during a livestreamed town hall on Wednesday, before the policy was added to a Twitch blog post listing a series of new guidelines, including the banning of the Confederate flag.

"Using terms like simp, incel, or virgin to refer as an insult, to negatively refer to another person's sexual activity is not allowed under this new policy," Clemens said. "In addition to the new policy change, we are actively denying emotes that include the term simp and will remove them when reported."

"Simp" is a relatively new term that has become popular in the Twitch community. It is used to mean someone who is desperate for a female's attention or is too submissive toward them.

"Incel" has more serious connotations. The word is a portmanteau of "involuntary celibates" and is used to describe men who have never had sex and blame women for this. The incel movement became infamous in May 2014 when Elliot Rodger killed six people in Isla Vista, California, blaming his crimes on his "existence of loneliness, rejection and unfulfilled desires."

Since then, there have been dozens of incidents of violence against women that have been linked to the incel movement.

Twitch confirmed that the use of "simp," "incel" or "virgin" would only be banned when used negatively to refer to another person's sexual practices.

"Using these terms on their own wouldn't lead to an enforcement but we would take action if they were used repeatedly in a harassing manner," the blog post read.

The policy will take effect on January 22 next year, with all content created on or after that date to be evaluated under the new guidelines.

The move comes as Twitch battles with incidents of racist, homophobic and sexist content on its livestreams.

Last week, the company unveiled a host of policy changes, including a ban on swastikas or Blackface unless they are being used in an "explicitly educational" context.

"We know that many people on Twitch—particularly women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Black, Indigenous and people of color—unfortunately continue to experience a disproportionate amount of harassment and abuse online, including on our service," the blog post read.

"Not only is this blatantly unacceptable, it also undermines the community we're building on Twitch and threatens the long-term viability of streaming as a career for everyone who wishes to pursue it."