The realm of digital content regulation as a social space: Sociogenesis of moderation norms and policies on Twitch platform

This article seeks to explore the socio-demographic determinants underlying the engagement of moderators and the production of content moderation norms in the French Twitch scene. Using a mixed-method approach, it highlights gender, politicisation, social class, and social vulnerability mechanisms d...

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Main Author: Nathan Ferret
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society 2025-03-01
Series:Internet Policy Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://policyreview.info/node/2004
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author Nathan Ferret
author_facet Nathan Ferret
author_sort Nathan Ferret
collection DOAJ
description This article seeks to explore the socio-demographic determinants underlying the engagement of moderators and the production of content moderation norms in the French Twitch scene. Using a mixed-method approach, it highlights gender, politicisation, social class, and social vulnerability mechanisms driving these norms and their diversity across channels. Targeting a precarious and marginalised yet politicised population, Twitch is engaged by moral entrepreneurs who reinforce their social positioning through their moderation practices. The question of gender and politicisation is central, organising the positioning space of moderation practices as a realm of social distinction between two poles: on the one hand, the most prominent channels, characterised by low levels of moderation, masculinity, and depoliticisation and, on the other, the more tightly, feminine and politicised channels, serving as sources of norms embraced by platform policies. This research contributes to explaining sociologically Twitch's distinctive policy as compared to its competitors, inviting policymakers to consider how digital platforms reproduce existing social structures through their regulatory frameworks.
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spelling doaj-art-a6364084576a4c2080f849b4f4d7c05e2025-08-20T01:51:36ZengAlexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and SocietyInternet Policy Review2197-67752025-03-0114110.14763/2025.1.2004The realm of digital content regulation as a social space: Sociogenesis of moderation norms and policies on Twitch platformNathan Ferret0ENS de LyonThis article seeks to explore the socio-demographic determinants underlying the engagement of moderators and the production of content moderation norms in the French Twitch scene. Using a mixed-method approach, it highlights gender, politicisation, social class, and social vulnerability mechanisms driving these norms and their diversity across channels. Targeting a precarious and marginalised yet politicised population, Twitch is engaged by moral entrepreneurs who reinforce their social positioning through their moderation practices. The question of gender and politicisation is central, organising the positioning space of moderation practices as a realm of social distinction between two poles: on the one hand, the most prominent channels, characterised by low levels of moderation, masculinity, and depoliticisation and, on the other, the more tightly, feminine and politicised channels, serving as sources of norms embraced by platform policies. This research contributes to explaining sociologically Twitch's distinctive policy as compared to its competitors, inviting policymakers to consider how digital platforms reproduce existing social structures through their regulatory frameworks.https://policyreview.info/node/2004Content moderationLive streamingDigital platformsNorms
spellingShingle Nathan Ferret
The realm of digital content regulation as a social space: Sociogenesis of moderation norms and policies on Twitch platform
Internet Policy Review
Content moderation
Live streaming
Digital platforms
Norms
title The realm of digital content regulation as a social space: Sociogenesis of moderation norms and policies on Twitch platform
title_full The realm of digital content regulation as a social space: Sociogenesis of moderation norms and policies on Twitch platform
title_fullStr The realm of digital content regulation as a social space: Sociogenesis of moderation norms and policies on Twitch platform
title_full_unstemmed The realm of digital content regulation as a social space: Sociogenesis of moderation norms and policies on Twitch platform
title_short The realm of digital content regulation as a social space: Sociogenesis of moderation norms and policies on Twitch platform
title_sort realm of digital content regulation as a social space sociogenesis of moderation norms and policies on twitch platform
topic Content moderation
Live streaming
Digital platforms
Norms
url https://policyreview.info/node/2004
work_keys_str_mv AT nathanferret therealmofdigitalcontentregulationasasocialspacesociogenesisofmoderationnormsandpoliciesontwitchplatform
AT nathanferret realmofdigitalcontentregulationasasocialspacesociogenesisofmoderationnormsandpoliciesontwitchplatform