In a significant move that aligns with its commitment to creating a safe and positive environment for streamers and viewers, Twitch has introduced a game-changing feature to tackle harassment and boost streamer control over their online spaces. 

This innovative feature, which responds directly to user feedback, grants streamers the ability to block banned users from accessing their live broadcasts. The release of this feature comes two months after Twitch first hinted at its development, and while it may not be visible to everyone just yet, it's set to be available to all content creators in the coming weeks. 

The new feature is accessible through the moderation settings in a streamer's creator dashboard. A simple checkbox labeled 'Stop banned users from viewing streams' provides the key to streamers' enhanced control over their content. Once activated, this checkbox effectively bars banned viewers from watching a streamer's live content, reinforcing streamer safety and creating a controlled virtual space. 

However, it is essential to recognize that the new feature is not without its limitations. Banned viewers can still find ways to access live streams through incognito windows on browsers or by staying logged out of their Twitch accounts. They also retain access to past broadcasts, VODs (video-on-demand), highlights, and clips. This caveat has raised concerns within the Twitch community, prompting calls for a more comprehensive solution, such as forcing viewers to log in to watch streams, to address these potential loopholes. 

Despite these limitations, the Twitch community has welcomed the new feature with open arms, acknowledging Twitch's responsiveness to user feedback and its ongoing commitment to making the platform a safer and more secure space for streamers and their viewers. The new feature signifies a substantial step in Twitch's ongoing efforts to eradicate harassment and enhance the overall streaming experience. 
It is noteworthy that this new feature complements the ban evasion detection system introduced by Twitch in 2021. While the ban evasion system relies on machine learning to flag suspicious accounts, the recent feature empowers streamers with direct control over who can access their content.