Picture this: you have been putting in the hours for weeks. You played your heart out and streamed every minute of it. Your brand is starting to get some recognition on social media, and best of all, you finally became a Twitch affiliate. Now imagine all of that work going down the drain because you missed a section in the Twitch affiliate agreement. Such unfortunate scenarios raise questions like, can you lose your affiliate status on Twitch? And if so, what would be the cause? We have the answers that should help you avoid getting kicked out of a program you worked hard to get into.
Main Reasons Streamers Lose Their Twitch Affiliate Status
First of all, we want to make it clear that it is not that common for Twitch to revoke the affiliate status of its streamers. The platform invited these gamers for a reason. It would be counter-productive for Twitch just to punish people, so you can relax and enjoy your affiliate privileges.
One thing you want to take seriously, though, is the Twitch affiliate agreement. We’re all guilty of agreeing to terms and conditions we didn’t really read in the past, but we didn’t drop the ball on this one. Here is a brief summary of all the important sections in the agreement that deal with behavior that might get you kicked out of the program.
Twitch Affiliate Exclusivity
When you agree to be a Twitch affiliate, you also agree to a live content exclusivity clause. This means that when you stream on Twitch, you can’t simultaneously live broadcast those sessions on other streaming platforms, i.e., multistream.
You can, however, post links to your Twitch streams to social media to promote your channel. As long as the Twitch streams are embedded and you are not using other platforms to broadcast live footage, you are not breaking any rules.
If you want to stream on a different platform, you need to end your Twitch streaming session first, and then start a new one. Additionally, if you want to upload an older stream from your Twitch VOD storage to another website, make sure that at least 24 hours have gone since you originally broadcast it on Twitch.
Account Inactivity
Can you lose your Twitch affiliate status by being inactive? There are a lot of different opinions online regarding what is considered “substantial activity”. This uncertainty is partially due to Twitch itself, as the platform doesn’t define how active it expects its affiliate streamers to be.
However, ultimately this is a good thing. Twitch doesn’t want to force anyone to stream when they are not inspired. The people behind Twitch even acknowledge this issue on the website and state that they understand that streamers have a life offline. Even if you set streaming aside for a couple of months, they will not kick you out of the program.
Only in extreme cases, like being inactive for over a year, will they review your account and entertain the possibility of revoking your affiliate status. Please note that this is a case-by-case decision, and not streaming for a year doesn’t automatically mean you will be kicked out of the program.
Streaming Prohibited Games
There is a list of prohibited games that Twitch doesn’t allow any streamer to broadcast through the platform. Streaming a barred game can get you in all sorts of trouble, including losing your affiliate or partnership status. Worst case scenario, you can get banned from Twitch.
The games on this blacklist are rated ESRB and were prohibited because they violate Twitch’s community guidelines regarding hate speech, sex, nudity, gratuitous gore, or extreme violence. By streaming them, the streamer fails to comply as well.
Be sure to check the list regularly because it is not definitive, and it is updated every time a new game that doesn’t fit its criteria is released.
Myths on Losing Your Twitch Affiliate Status
To put many dilemmas to rest, we will entertain some of the rumors we read online concerning reasons Twitch might dismiss you from the affiliate program. These are, in most cases, misinterpretations of the rules or empty claims based on no viable evidence.
If your followers drop to under 50, you will lose your affiliate status on Twitch.
This myth almost certainly comes from reading too much into the Twitch affiliate requirements. Among the other prerequisites, the program requires streamers to have a minimum of 50 followers to become a Twitch affiliate. However, there is no section on the entire Twitch website stating that losing followers will cause you to lose your affiliate status.
If you don’t make $100 within a year, Twitch will kick you out of the affiliate program.
We honestly don’t understand the logic behind this rumor and where it is coming from, but Twitch facts and stats show that it is simply not true. The only time a threshold of $100 is mentioned in the Twitch affiliate rules is that you need at least that much to request a withdrawal. Inactivity rules have nothing to do with the streamer’s revenue, so your Twitch affiliate status will not be revoked for not earning any specific amount.
If you lose your affiliate status, you will need to send $25 to Twitch.
While there is a $25 maintenance fee that Twitch charges inactive streamers that lose their affiliate status, the platform will never ask you to send a check. Only accounts with earnings higher than $25 will be charged, and the remaining money will be paid off to the streamers. Unfortunately, if your balance was lower than $25, you will not get any of it, as all of it will be deducted as a maintenance fee.
Bonus Tip — How to Check Your Affiliate Status on Twitch
Streamers can check their affiliate status at any time by looking at the Path to Affiliate achievement. It keeps track of your progress towards meeting the Twitch affiliate requirements. You can find it under insights on the left side of your creator dashboard on Twitch.
The Bottom Line
While losing your affiliate status on Twitch is a real possibility, it shouldn’t happen as long as you don’t do anything out of the ordinary. Both you and the platform aim to increase your viewership and subscriber count, so you share a common goal.
Twitch will never take your affiliate status unless you give it a reason. So make sure you understand the rules of your affiliate agreement and the general terms of using the platform.
Taking a break from streaming is something that all streamers do, so don’t feel like you have to stream just to stay in the affiliate program. Just do your best and remember to have fun.
Can You Lose Your Affiliate Status on Twitch FAQs
How long do you have to be inactive on Twitch to lose your affiliate status?
It depends on the account in question. Twitch doesn’t have a specific policy for revoking the affiliate status of inactive streamers. Instead, the platform reviews accounts that haven’t been active for a considerable period and makes decisions individually. Taking a break from streaming for a few months is totally acceptable and will not cost you your affiliate status.
Can you lose affiliate status on Twitch if you lose followers?
One of the requirements that streamers must meet to become a member of the Twitch affiliate program is attaining at least 50 followers. However, the Twitch affiliate agreement doesn’t have rules against losing followers. Dropping below 50 is a setback, though fortunately, you will not lose your affiliate status because of it.
Can you lose your Twitch partnership?
Whether your question is can you lose your affiliate status on Twitch or you are worried about your Twitch partnership — the answer is the same. Even though there are plenty of differences between the Twitch affiliate and partnership programs, they are regulated by the same rules. Violating the terms of the agreement or code of conduct will certainly take your status away. Additionally, being inactive for over a year might be a reason for Twitch to revoke your partnership.
