Twitch Classifies Cheating as “Low Severity” Violation Under Updated Policy

Twitch updated their enforcement system, classifying cheating as a “low severity” violation. An initial offense of cheating is punishable with a 24 hour ban – after which the violation will remain on the account for 90 days. 

Waiting out the 90 days will result in the streamer returning to their original standing with no long-lasting penalties from Twitch. A second offense prior during the probational period results in a three day suspension. The 90 day violation is reset upon the second violation.

The update was implemented on February 19, 2025, and targets reducing the risk that streamers face. 

Prior to the update, cheating was not considered a low severity violation. The streaming service did not outline any other “low severity” offenses in their update blog, but the categorizer likely encompasses other offenses outside of cheating. Hateful conduct is the only high-severity violation specifically mentioned, and is said to expire in a year or two. 

“The most severe harms will still result in immediate indefinite suspensions. If you are indefinitely suspended due to accumulating multiple violations within a short time period, you are able to apply for reinstatement after 6 months,” they explained.

Prior to this update, Twitch addressed cheating violations on a case-by-case basis. This meant the severity of the punishments for dishonest acts was up to the streaming company’s discretion. 

YouTube and Kick emerged as streaming rivals, causing many creators to depart from Twitch – thereby sparking Twitch to make changes to prioritize their talent. Despite strong competition in the marketplace, Twitch is still considered the largest streaming platform for video games in 2025.