Bits are digital content (i.e., animated emoticons) that can only be purchased or received on Twitch. Bits are a way for viewers to celebrate moments and express appreciation for others and events.
This Bits Acceptable Use Policy (“Policy”) establishes guidelines for what uses of Bits are and are not allowed on Twitch, meaning in live streams or other content broadcast or posted on Twitch. It applies to any Twitch user that purchases, obtains, or otherwise uses Bits. We may change this Policy from time to time. The most current version of this Policy will be posted on the Twitch website and will supersede all previous versions. Any changes will be effective upon posting. We encourage you to review this Policy on a regular basis.
Your use of Bits is further subject to and governed by Twitch’s Terms of Service, Terms of Sale, and Community Guidelines. In the event of a conflict between this Policy and those agreements, this Policy will control. Any capitalized terms used in this Policy but not otherwise defined have the meaning given to them in the Terms of Service. If you are a Developer, your use of Bits in Twitch Extensions is also subject to Twitch’s Developer Services Agreement (including our Extensions Guidelines and Policies).
Usage Guidelines
Keep the following two ground rules in mind whether you are a streamer, viewer, or anyone else who interacts with Bits:
1. Bits are not a currency or money instrument.
Bits are digital content that may only be obtained and consumed on Twitch. They can only be used to offer or obtain access to additional functionality and user experience enhancements on Twitch. Bits do not have an equivalent value in real currency, and do not serve as a currency or money instrument. Users may not sell Bits, and they may only transfer or exchange Bits on Twitch to obtain the enhanced functionality or enhancements.
2. Bits may not be used or exchanged for functionality or experiences outside Twitch or for goods or services having monetary value.
Bits may only unlock functionalities or user experience enhancements on Twitch. Users can express themselves with Bits in chat messages. They can unite through their collective use of Bits to achieve a goal and unlock a benefit or experience for the community. Streamers can announce rewards available on Twitch in response to individuals who use Bits to celebrate or enable their community to use Bits to celebrate and access unique experiences on Twitch. In each of these scenarios, Bits are used to enhance users’ experiences on Twitch, and the uses of Bits are facilitated by streamers through Twitch. By contrast, users may not offer to exchange Bits for experiences off of Twitch or for goods or services that typically have a monetary cost or value.
Here are some examples of ways you may use Bits on Twitch:
- Celebrating amazing moments, showing support for streamers, and being recognized.
- Expressing appreciation for Bits celebrations and acknowledging chat messages that include Bits, whether via overlays or other forms.
- Establishing goals for Bits usage by the community that could unlock or provide community benefits or content; creating leaderboards; triggering content; or providing rewards to viewers for collective Bits usage. For example:
- A streamer announces that they will replace a specific emote with a new emote if ten people celebrate with 1,000 Bits in the next five minutes.
- A streamer announces that they will play a specific game depending on the votes of the community based on the number of Bits used by the community to celebrate in a 10-minute span.
- A streamer announces that they will change the speed of a character in a game they are playing in response to chat messages sent with Bits.
- A streamer asks viewers to send chat messages with Bits for a character the streamer should select in Street Fighter.
- A developer may unlock a game skin within an Extensions game if the community celebrates with a certain number of Bits within a specific time frame.
Further, we encourage you to create experiences or benefits in response to users who use Bits to celebrate, including as part of Bits features, such as doing a little dance, making your avatar change color, wearing a goofy hat, or eating a piece of sushi. DO NOT do something that qualifies as an exchange of something of value (learn more below).
Here are some examples of ways you may not use Bits on Twitch:
- Soliciting Bits in exchange for money or donations or requesting money or donations for Bits.
- Providing items or services that are associated with a monetary value in exchange for Bits, including items or services that are physical or that are not available on Twitch (e.g., offering a hoodie, a subscription to your channel, a dinner date, graphic design services, access to a specific VOD, cooking lessons, or the ability to engage in a private conversation in exchange for Bits).
- Asking for items, or specific services, that are associated with a monetary value in exchange for Bits. For example:
- Telling a streamer that you will use Bits in their channel if the streamer gifts you a channel subscription.
- Requesting or offering a specific pre-recorded song to be played in exchange for an amount of Bits.
- Promising to use Bits in a streamer’s channel if the streamer sends you, for example, a t-shirt.
- Selling, offering to sell, trading, bartering, or transferring Bits to anyone in exchange for (a) real or virtual currencies; or (b) any other items of value whether on or off Twitch. Any attempted prohibited sale or transfer will be null and void and may result in forfeiture of all Bits without compensation.
- Using Bits as a bet or wager or soliciting or accepting Bits for a bet or wager.
- Using Bits to engage in any fraudulent, criminal, or other unauthorized activity, or soliciting or receiving Bits for any fraudulent, criminal, or other unauthorized activity.
Violations of this Policy
Any violations or attempted violations of this Policy by you (or any third party acting on your behalf) will constitute a violation of the Terms of Service by you and a material breach of any other applicable agreement you may have with Twitch.
Additionally, a violation may result in civil or criminal liability, and Twitch, in its sole discretion, in addition to any remedy that it may have at law or in equity, may immediately cause all Bits related to the violation to be forfeited to Twitch (no compensation will be provided) and terminate permission for you to use Bits. Twitch may bring legal action to enjoin violations and/or collect damages caused by any violation of any part of this Policy.
Twitch’s failure to enforce this Policy in every instance in which it might have application does not amount to a waiver of Twitch’s rights.