Popular IRL Twitch streamer Emily Xuechun Zhang, known online as ExtraEmily, was temporarily banned from the platform after a near-accident occurred while she was driving and streaming. The incident took place when Zhang became distracted by live chat while attempting to change lanes, narrowly avoiding a collision with another vehicle.
Zhang has since apologized for her actions, stating, "I completely understand why I was suspended because it's very dangerous, I want to learn from my mistake and do better in the future." She plans to minimize driving during streams and will disable chat interaction when she does drive. This incident is not the first time Zhang has faced scrutiny for distracted driving; a year prior, she ran a red light while en route to a themed cafe.
The nature of IRL streaming, which offers viewers an unfiltered look into a streamer's daily life, has repeatedly raised safety and ethical concerns. Twitch's terms of service prohibit dangerous or distracted driving and the use of a phone, which are often inherent to live streaming while operating a vehicle. Zhang's ban lasted only one day, sparking discussion among other prominent streamers.
Some streamers have called for stricter platform policies. Asmongold, a co-founder of the OTK media organization to which Zhang belongs, suggested that streaming while driving should be prohibited on Twitch entirely, recommending streamers opt for ride-sharing services instead. This sentiment echoes the case of Asian Andy, who has been banned from Twitch for nine years after a past incident involving driving and eating. He has appealed for his ban to be lifted, citing the seemingly more lenient treatment of streamers like Zhang and Kai Cenat following similar distracted driving incidents.