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Can Mods Disable Raids on Twitch? A Comprehensive Guide

The short answer is no, Twitch moderators cannot directly disable or cancel an incoming raid. The streamer, and in some cases, their editors, are the ones who hold the power to accept, deny, or cancel a raid. However, mods play a crucial role in managing the chaos and mitigating potential harm during a raid, particularly if it turns out to be a hate raid. This article will delve into the nuances of Twitch raids, the tools available to streamers and moderators, and strategies for handling both positive and negative raid scenarios.

Understanding Twitch Raids

A Twitch raid is essentially a feature that allows a streamer to send their audience to another streamer’s channel at the end of their stream. This can be a fantastic way to boost visibility, support fellow creators, and create a sense of community. However, raids can sometimes be used maliciously, turning into hate raids where a group of individuals floods a channel with hateful messages and harassment.

Streamer Control Over Raids

Streamers have several options to control incoming raids:

Raid Settings: In the Creator Dashboard under Settings > Stream, streamers can configure their raid settings. They can choose to allow raids from all channels, only allow raids from friends or teammates, or deny all raids.
Requirements for Raids: Streamers can set requirements that channels must meet to raid them. This includes criteria like being a certain age, having a verified email, or being a follower.
Manual Approval (Limited): While not a direct “approve/deny” button for each individual raid, the settings mentioned above act as a filter.

The Moderator’s Role During a Raid

While mods can’t disable or cancel a raid, they are the first line of defense in managing the chat and protecting the streamer and the community:

Chat Management: Mods can use their moderation tools to timeout or ban users who are engaging in harassment or breaking the channel’s rules.
Enabling Chat Modes: Mods can enable slow mode, subscriber-only mode, or follower-only mode to slow down the chat and give them more control.
Clearing the Chat: The /clear command allows mods to clear the entire chat history, providing a fresh start if things get out of hand.
Reporting Users: Mods can report users who violate Twitch’s Terms of Service.
Acting as a Buffer: Mods can engage with the incoming raid, welcoming them and setting the tone for a positive interaction. This can help defuse potentially negative situations.

Strategies for Handling Hate Raids

When a raid turns into a hate raid, swift and decisive action is crucial:

Pause Stream Alerts: Temporarily disable on-screen alerts to prevent hateful messages from being displayed.
Clear the Chat: Use /clear to remove offensive messages.
Enable Sub-Only/Follower-Only Mode: This restricts chat access to subscribers or followers, limiting the number of malicious participants.
Increase AutoMod Level: Raise the AutoMod level to filter out more potentially harmful messages.
Set a Non-Mod Chat Delay: This gives mods more time to review messages before they appear in chat.
Communicate with Viewers: Explain the situation to your regular viewers and ask for their support.
Report and Ban: Diligently report and ban offenders.
Consider Ending the Stream: If the hate raid is overwhelming, it may be necessary to end the stream to protect yourself and your community.

How to Protect Yourself from Hate Raids

Appoint Moderators: Having trusted moderators is essential.
Turn on Followers-Only Mode: Limit chat access to followers.
Turn on AutoMod: Use AutoMod to automatically filter out offensive messages. A level of 2 or higher is recommended.
Enable Email and/or Phone Verification: Require users to verify their accounts via email or phone.
Manage Incoming Raids Settings: Configure your raid settings to limit the channels that can raid you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can Twitch mods initiate a raid?

No, Twitch moderators cannot initiate a raid. Only the streamer or their editors can start a raid.

2. Can Twitch mods see my IP address?

No, channel moderators are never given access to other users’ IP addresses. This would pose significant security risks.

3. Why won’t Twitch let me raid a specific channel?

The channel you are trying to raid may have enabled settings that prevent raids from channels that don’t meet their criteria, or they may have disabled raids altogether.

4. Is viewbotting legal on Twitch?

No, using services that promise higher visibility in exchange for lurking in a large number of channels or viewing streams on pages with embedded streams is considered a form of fake engagement and is not permitted on Twitch.

5. Can I get banned for raging on Twitch?

Violence and hateful conduct on Twitch are taken seriously and are considered zero-tolerance violations. Accounts associated with such activities can be indefinitely suspended.

6. What happens if I ban evade on Twitch?

Twitch has systems in place to detect ban evaders. Messages sent by likely ban evaders will automatically be restricted, visible only to the streamer and their moderators.

7. How much do Twitch mods get paid?

The pay for Twitch moderators varies widely. Some mods are volunteers, while others are paid an hourly rate. The estimated total pay for a Moderator at Twitch (as an employee, which is rare for individual channel moderators) is around $30 per hour. However, this figure doesn’t represent the typical compensation for community moderators working directly for streamers.

8. Can a Twitch mod make someone else a mod?

Yes, a moderator can make someone else a moderator if the streamer has granted them permission to do so. This can be done through the chat command /mod [username] or by clicking the “Mod” button in the user’s profile.

9. Should streamers ask for subs?

It’s generally acceptable for streamers to ask for subscriptions, especially encouraging viewers to use their Twitch Prime subscription. The key is to do it tastefully and without being overly aggressive.

10. Do streamers get 100% of subs?

No, streamers do not get 100% of the subscription revenue. Twitch Partners typically receive 50% of the $4.99 subscription cost, with Twitch retaining the other 50%. Higher-tier subscriptions ($9.99 and $24.99) also have revenue splits.

11. Do small streamers get money from subs?

Yes, even small streamers can earn money from subscriptions once they become Twitch Affiliates. This requires meeting certain criteria, such as having at least 50 followers and streaming for a specific number of hours.

12. Can mods block terms on Twitch?

Yes, moderators can block terms in a Twitch chat. This helps to filter out offensive or unwanted language.

13. Can moderators see all my blocked terms?

By default, moderators can see blocked terms in your channel. However, you can set a term to “Private” when blocking it, which will prevent moderators from seeing it.

14. How do Twitch streamers get raided (swatted)?

“Swatting” involves a troll finding a streamer’s address and making a false report to emergency services, prompting an armed response. This is a serious crime and should be reported to the authorities immediately.

15. What are mods allowed to do on Twitch?

Moderators on Twitch have various responsibilities, including:

Time out or ban users.
Enable slow, Subscriber-only, or Follower-only chat modes.
Start, manage, and end polls.
Start, manage, and end Predictions.

The Importance of Community and Education

Ultimately, a positive Twitch experience relies on a strong community and educated users. Understanding the tools available, respecting the rules, and fostering a welcoming environment are crucial. Resources like the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) can provide valuable insights into the social dynamics of online gaming and streaming communities. Fostering a positive atmosphere requires community education and robust moderation practices. Visit the Games Learning Society website for more on building positive online communities.

Can mods disable raids twitch?