Starting next week, Twitch streamers will have more tools to connect with the community thanks to the addition of more than 350 new tags "related to gender, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ability, mental health, and more. The list of tags includes "transgender, black, disabled, veterans, Vtubers, etc.

Twitch used to be strict on tags, preferring that they be used to describe what is happening in the stream rather than streamers, with tags such as achievement hunting, first time playthroughs, and social eating. The exception was the LGBTQIA+ tag, whose success and repeated requests, especially from transgender streamers, caused Twitch to reconsider its stance. Viewers are not simply looking for "content," they are looking for streamers they can relate to and come back to.

Twitch explains how it came to the new list of tags, "Independent third parties such as GLAAD, The Trevor Project, AbleGamers, and SpecialEffect, as well as underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, LGBTQIA+, and disabled people, other professionals focused on advancing marginalized communities. And finally, we reached out to members of the Twitch community and asked for feedback.

That feedback is an ongoing process, and suggestions for additional tags are being solicited through UserVoice.

Twitch is also in the process of revising its categories, and recently added a "Pools, Hot Tubs, and Beaches" category where advertisers can choose to opt-in or opt-out, following a controversy after one hot tub distributor's channel was removed without warning.