Establishing Boundaries for your stream

 Establishing Boundaries for your stream

We previously discussed the importance of creating a community that aligns with your values and principles. In order to achieve this you have to establish clear rules and enforce them with the appropriate degree of strictness.  Your approach can significantly influence your community's behavior towards you, towards each other, and the overall mood of the chat. By setting solid boundaries on what is and isn’t acceptable on your channel, you can enhance your brand, make your community feel more at ease, and reduce your vulnerability to trolls or other deceptive individuals. In a previous entry titled Chat: A reflection of yourself, we shared how to implement rules on your channel, as well as experimenting with different levels of flexibility. Because each stream is unique, specific guidelines set by one streamer may not be relevant or useful to you. It is important to keep in mind that specific guidelines set by one streamer may not be relevant or useful to you because every stream is unique. It’s up to you to develop your own rules through trial and error, refining them based on your experiences. As we go through some examples, it’s important that you pay attention to the logic and reasoning provided and apply the process to your own style of streaming. 

Profanity and other inappropriate languages

The enforcement around the use of profanity and other inappropriate language is a topic that varies among streamers. While some may allow their community to use such language, others may prefer to keep it to a minimum. For instance, even if your streams are rated 18 plus or the games played on stream are rated mature and involve heavy use of foul language, it is still possible to distinguish between the game content and how the community interacts with each other. By limiting the use of swearing, sexual references, and other inappropriate language, you can promote a more positive atmosphere within your community. It’s important to consider that some individuals may feel uncomfortable with vulgar language or certain types of jokes. Therefore, adhering to a PG-13 rating may be an effective approach to maintaining a welcoming and inclusive environment for viewers. 

Underlying meaning in comments

It is important to pay close attention to the underlying meaning of comments and interactions in chat. While it may be obvious to address and avoid overly racist, sexist, or homophobic comments, individuals may still make charged comments that are inappropriate in certain contexts. As a streamer, you have to stand up for the things that matter to you, regardless if they are not typically enforced by other streamers. For instance, if there is a stereotype that you find particularly offensive, make sure you don’t allow comments to go unchecked, even if it’s commonly used or accepted in other channels. It’s surprising how many harmful stereotypes are perpetuated in some chats without anyone objecting.  Additionally, it is essential to read comments thoroughly before reading them aloud on stream. Some new streamers may take a hasty approach when reading comments, blindly repeating whatever is put in front of them without first understanding the meaning. As a result, it is critical to avoid accidentally saying something that violates your personal values on stream, simply because someone else wrote it.

Bad Conversation starters 

There are three topics that are known to cause division: politics, religion, and sex. These topics can lead to negative conversations and a negative streaming experience for all those involved. I’d highly suggest staying away from those topics.  Even if your channel is focused on these topics, it’s important to consider the potential impact they can have on your community’s disposition. You don’t want to risk alienating major portions of your audience or having conversations turn ugly. It’s best to think ahead and look for red flags that could signal the start of a potentially bad conversation. Remember your steam can serve as neutral territory and a break from the real world’s divisive issues. 

Protect your privacy

Sharing personal details is a common practice among streamers to create a sense of community, but it’s important to consider how much you are comfortable disclosing. Do you discuss your profession, relationship status, or location? While some streamers are comfortable with complete transparency, others prefer to keep certain aspects of their lives private. It’s essential to establish boundaries to avoid any potential issues. For example, you might say you work in a restaurant and share stories, but you never disclose the location or name of said restaurant. Think carefully about how much information you are prepared to share, and don't feel obligated to disclose everything. Keep in mind that your audience will understand when you have limitations. Not having a plan for sensitive topics is the only mistake you can make. 

The importance of moderation

Once you have established limits on what personal details you are willing to share with your community, it’s time to put those limits into action. One of the first steps could be to create chat commands that explain the rules you have established. In a previous article titled Chat: A reflection on yourself we discussed effective ways to communicate these rules and how to implement them. Streaming services such as Twitch and YouTube, offer Automod settings that can detect red flags, such as profanity, sexual content, discrimination, and hostility. These settings can be adjusted to suit your preferences. Another line of defense is appointing trusted community members to be moderators in your stream. They act as an extension of you and they can help moderate your chat. To ensure that everyone is on the same page and aware of what is acceptable, it is important to maintain constant communication with your moderators. With these tools and strategies in place, you can create a welcoming and enjoyable environment for everyone in your community. 

Sometimes, ignoring a certain topic is the most effective way to discourage it from becoming a regular conversation in your stream. There may be personal matters that you do not want to establish as explicit rules, but also do not want to discuss. Suppose you don’t want to talk about your health issues, family problems, or financial situation on your stream. You have the right to keep these topics private and not discuss them. This can turn into a bad conversation starter as discussed earlier.  Remember, you are not required to respond to every comment during your stream. If a topic makes you uneasy, you have the right to avoid discussing it. You can even quietly delete the comment to make sure others do not begin asking about it as well. 

Final thoughts

Remember, your behavior on stream sets the tone for your community. If you want to enforce certain rules, you need to model that behavior yourself. For example, if you want to discourage profanity in chat, you should avoid using foul language on stream. Your audience will take cues from your actions, so it’s important to lead by example. Ultimately, people want to be part of a positive and respectful community, so it’s up to you to create and maintain that environment. Setting boundaries and guidelines for your community doesn’t have to stifle interesting conversations or creativity. On the contrary, it can actually encourage more meaningful interactions and discussions. By defining your values and limits, you are establishing the framework for a healthy community. Remember, having strong boundaries is not about being prudish or boring, but rather about knowing what you are comfortable sharing and discussing on your stream. Difficult and inappropriate topics will inevitably arise, but with clear boundaries in place, you’ll be better equipped to handle them when they do.