The US Army Twitch stream received a warning from Twitch this weekend. The streaming company reprimands the eSports team about their phony giveaway.
According to a report, the US Army Twitch stream featured an automated chat link. This link promised those who click it can win an Xbox Elite Series 2 controller. Even then, the link only goes back to an Army recruitment form.
This blatant false promotion caught the ire of watchers. Twitch received flak too, which led them to deny knowledge of it and sanction the stream.
The US Army uses eSports as a recruitment tool
The existence of the US Army eSports team is an obvious way to make an impression. It’s a clear recruitment tool that tells impressionable young people to join. The entire thing puts the military closer to fans of the game and shows their “potential” life with the Army.
Like any recruitment tool, it’s an idealized way of viewing things. It’s improbable for those who join to get to do whatever they want in the corps. So far, the Army’s stream got flak from its viewers because of the recruitment.
Many viewers bombard the stream with questions about the war crimes of the Army. Some trolled the stream and their Discord, playing some “speedrun” on how fast they get a ban. The pointed questions put into perspective the level of disconnect they have.
UwU 💕
— U.S. Army Esports (@USArmyesports) June 30, 2020
All this goes on top of the US Army eSports going “uWu” on their Twitter. With a ton of objectionable, out-of-character stuff they do, it all harkens back to recruitment.
US Army is all over Twitch
According to Twitch, the company now forced the US Army Twitch stream to cease their fake promotion. The chat link they’re running is against their “Terms of Service” and needs to go.
“Per our Terms of Service, promotions on Twitch must comply with all applicable laws,” a Twitch spokesperson said in an interview. “This promotion did not comply with our Terms, and we have required them to remove it.”
Twitch is very stringent with their rules when it comes to promotions. Any amount of false advertising or dishonesty in a streamer’s giveaway results in sanctions. In some cases, it can result in a strike or account suspension.
The Army is trying its hardest to use Twitch as a recruitment platform as of late. The Army is the sponsor of a ton of Twitch’s eSports brand and channel. Some shoutouts even go to the Army from its eSports broadcasters.
The US Army Twitch is likely here to stay. With the platform having close ties with the organization, viewers would have to adjust and stay woke.
Featured image courtesy of The US Army/Youtube Screenshots