Mixer, the streaming platform that recently managed to sign on Ninja to stream exclusively on their service over Twitch, is being criticized for what some call strict and likely sexist clothing guidelines.
Mixer’s official clothing guidelines states that “There are some limits to what streamers can wear on camera. Our rules on clothing attempt to allow for expression while still keeping things safe for the wide variety of audience members that make use of our site.”
The clothing guide itself is split into three sections: “Family friendly stream,” “Teen Stream,” and “18+ stream.”
By Mixer’s standards, a family friendly stream must meet the standard of “clothing must cover [the] entire visible body from a few inches above the bust-line. It cannot be strapless and should show little to no cleavage.” Similarly, a teen stream is allowed to show “more than a hint of cleavage,” but clothing must still be strapless and cover “the entire body.”
The 18+ category is where things get noticeably more lenient. Streamers must have their chests covered “from the bust-line to the end of the rib cage,” crop tops are allowed, and strapless tops are allowed so long as it’s clear that the streamer is still wearing a top. Additionally, “situational appropriate clothing” is allowed, such as swimwear at a beach, and sports bra at a gym.
Mixer is owned by Microsoft.
A number of streamers, content creators, and industry workers on social media have criticized the guideline for being needlessly strict against female/feminine streamers and content creators.
Just checking in to let everyone know by Mixer’s standards the meet and greets at Disney for Ariel, Moana, and Jasmine are 18+
Have a good day!!
— Luxie (@LuxieGames) August 3, 2019
ok so im reading about the mixer clothing rules and i am honestly dying lol what is with this weird shit about strapless tops not being “family friendly”??? anyone who actually thinks that is just stupid. it’s just SHOULDERS, PEOPLE
— nina freeman (@hentaiphd) August 3, 2019
Behold Mixers ‘Rating Specific clothing guidelines’.
Anyone else wildly uncomfortable at the idea of any visible skin not being family friendly??
Crop tops or visible shoulders are always 18+. Seems archaic and backwards. pic.twitter.com/iIOKjLvdnO
— Emily Bello #TwitchLDN (@EmStreams) August 2, 2019
had to do a double take on those mixer clothing policies. my catholic middle school’s rules were more lenient. 80% of my work wardrobe is apparently not family friendly?? the dress i’m wearing right now also doesn’t pass, lol
— Katie Chironis (@kchironis) August 3, 2019
Mixer’s clothing guidelines looks like it was written by a guy with an agenda against “titty streamers.” pic.twitter.com/0dMqXy6EuQ
— Mia (@SleepyMia145) August 2, 2019
I love it when people dig up a picture of me in a sweater to prove I have clothes that fully cover my chest. Because, y’know, I’m supposed to stream in a sweater in the summer in the desert of fucking New Mexico to fit @Mixer‘s archaic dress guidelines.
— Adelaide Gardner (@ohadelaide) August 3, 2019
While Mixer’s guidelines take steps to use some gender-neutral wording, some have criticized the guideline for specifically referencing clothing styles and physical traits that are predominantly associated with feminine people, such as straps and cleavage.
1/ On the Mixer rules. Women shouldn’t be specifically policed. The rules *apply* to everyone equally but disproportionately *affect* women. There’s exactly 0 question that women have to make this adjustment (to 18+ rating) for totally normal attire while men generally don’t. pic.twitter.com/LVltcw6q5Z
— Hunter Wild Seattle (@TheHunterWildTV) August 3, 2019
I was temporarily banned on my first mixer stream because my T-shirt covered my shorts the rules about what to cover up sound very sexist….
— Angels Piano Twitch Ambassador (@Angels_Piano) August 3, 2019
I hate to break it to you Mixer but people will still find ways around these rules and test them to their limits. High schools have dress codes and still teen girls fight back. Also boobs aren’t inherently sexual my dudes
— Ana Valens, Gender Witch (@acvalens) August 3, 2019
In an earlier, seemingly unrelated stream, Mixer CEO Matt Salsamendi commented on how he thinks Mixer’s Terms of Service compare to Twitch’s.
“Twitch has struggled with things along the lines enforcement for a long time because it’s a hard problem,” Salsamendi said. “It’s a hard problem to solve as a community grows. So one of the things we did early on to try to get ahead of some of that stuff was making our rules of conduct as clear and objective as possible, so you know if you’re doing something right or wrong. There’s not really gray area. If you look at our code of conduct as it relates to clothing, we outline the exact requirements in terms of clothing at each different rating on Mixer.”
IGN has reached out to Mixer via a publicly available contact form for comment, but did not immediately receive a reply. The streaming platform has almost certainly come under greater attention as a result of Ninja’s exclusivity deal. You can check out what the streaming community thought of the deal.
Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN.
